Owners, staff of 92 News, Channel 24 News summoned for airing 'baseless news'

ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Tuesday decided to summon TV license holders, anchors and the editorial staff of news channels for airing 'baseless' allegations against public office holders and members of the Parliament.

The committee, which was chaired by Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla, also decided to call the relevant staff of channel 92 News and Channel 24 News in its next meeting for airing 'baseless news.'

The committee reached the consensus that leveling allegations against anyone without documentary evidence was not acceptable.

The committee noted that that Pakistan Electronic Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had neglected to exert its function as an effective electronic media regulator.

PEMRA should have taken stern actions against anchor-persons and TV channels for broadcasting such allegations and making fun of people’s elected representatives, Bodla added.

PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam informed the committee that PEMRA had forwarded complaints received against above-mentioned TV anchorpersons to its Council of Complaints and the proceedings were in progress.

News channels had been repeatedly cautioned to abide by the PEMRA code of conduct, however, few of them had failed to comply with the instructions and necessary actions were initiated against them.