PEMRA banned many dramas, shows and adverts in 2020 citing a bulk of complaints and feeling the anxiety in public against the content of such programmes under PEMRA Ordinance section 27 A which essays that:
"The Authority (PEMRA) shall by
order in writing, giving reasons therefore, prohibit any broadcast media or distribution service operator
from –
(a) broadcasting or re-broadcasting or distributing any programme or advertisement if it is of the opinion
that such particular programme or advertisement is against the ideology of Pakistan or is likely to create
hatred among the people or is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order or is likely to disturb public
peace and tranquility or endangers national security or is pornographic, obscene or vulgar or is offensive to
the commonly accepted standards of decency."
The complaints about indecent, immoral, and repeated shallow content in Pakistani dramas was not new on the citizen portal and PEMRA report social media accounts, but the vibes of Urdu dubbed Turkish drama Ertugrul's superb content after it aired on state tv channel on 25th April, made the TV audience fumed against the content of local dramas. Audience hailed on TV channels, production houses, writers and on PEMRA for not adopting new ideas but drag on the ones which are hitting moral, social and religious values.
It triggered the PEMRA to issue notices and putting bans on local dramas that were under fire for indecent content.
Here is a list of PEMRA banned dramas, shows and adverts of 2020 and how the programs still coming on TV channels without showing any concern to PEMRA bans.
- PEMRA Ban on dramas 'Ishqiya' and 'Pyar k sadaqe'
As an aggressive show of authority, on 4th September, PEMRA banned the retelecast of top private channel dramas: 'Ishqiya' on ARY and 'Pyar k sadaqe' on Hum TV for immoral and non religious content after the dramas were finished. The central idea of both dramas revolved around harassment of females from closer family members. The public accused the content against the family and social culture of Pakistan and showed anxiety on social media channels in a great number. The audience wondered why PEMRA waited for dramas to finish for putting a ban and criticised the decision.
- Ban on drama "Jalan"-ARY TV
Upon facing criticism, and citing complaints against the content of another on-air drama of ARY, 'Jalan', PEMRA banned the drama on 10th September after it's 13th episode under PEMRA ordinance section 27. The drama storyline where a sister in law trapped and marry brother in law lusting on his wealth disturbed the audience again that were urging to watch something different and productive. Many spectators see the ban as a need for time and appreciated it. The audience hoped that PEMRA would force the channels to work more professionally but to their wonder, drama Jalan was back at the same time the next week without missing a single episode. Here ARY administration took permission from Sindh High Court for airing the drama accusing that PEMRA can only regulate the content and is not authorized to ban th
e dramas.
- BAN ON The Tick Tock SHOW-BOL TV
A candid tv show of BOL Tv was under fire for showing vulgar tik tok videos on Indian songs from the youth. After citing too many complaints, PEMRA banned 'the ticktok show' on 11th September. A notification was tweeted in this regard.
The ban was again taken as a good step from the audience and to tell you what! The tik tok show was on air with the same content on the same day of the ban without giving a damn to PEMRA notice. As BOL tv authority has clashes with PEMRA.
- BAN GALA BISCUIT ADVERT FEATURING MEHWISH HAYAT
On 1st October, next in the line of PEMRA bans was the gala biscuit TV advertisement featuring lead film star Mehvish Hayat. The ad was banned for showing indecent and irrelevant content in the ad after citing a complaint from a renowned journalist Ansar Abbasi. A banning notice was issued on twitter account and asked the companies to review the content of advertisement. Again it's not to wonder for an audience now that the Gala biscuit ad is still shown on TV and PEMRA and Gala biscuit don't bother to explain Why and How!
- BAN ON "CHURAILS"
A critically acclaimed webseries under Indian production company ZEE5' "CHURAILS" was under fire because of meaningful and sexual notes in the series. The series proclaiming to raise women issues behind the doors was banned in October. Many people who didn't know much about the series for it was not a TV drama came to know very next day that CHURAIL is back in Pakistan just missing a day. This is what PEMRA BAN notices have their values.
- BAN ON "Of the record" and "Kashif Abbasi"
On 15th January 2020, PEMRA banned ARY talk show and renowned anchorperson Kashif Abbasi appearance on TV for 60 days after Faisal Wavda put a boot on the desk to annoy the participants from opposition party, during
the talk show. It surprised the audience when 'off the record' appeared at the same time 8: 03 pm on 16th January with the same host. Kashif Abbasi told me that he has submitted a written explanation then the ban to PEMRA, so he's back on TV without missing a day though PEMRA didn't bother to explain it.
At one side if audience admired the PEMRA notices then on the other side, many spectators criticised the unnecessary bans and tag it a ban on freedom of speech and freedom of creativity. PEMRA should not only follow and impose bans seriously but also mention the clear limits to media companies where they should be careful to avoid future bans.
We can say that PEMRA is imposing or at least trying to impose its authority on private TV channels and it'll definitely twist the jammed creativity of private media companies.