ISLAMABAD: Absar Alam, who heads the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), has suggested the introduction of a process to regulate the appointment of television anchors, regretting that some anchors are constantly ridiculing the country’s Constitution.

“Pemra is not authorised to check the dual nationality of any anchor or grant a security clearance to them. The security apparatus should be doing it as is done prior to the grant of an operating licence to any channel,” the Pemra chairman said while talking to media on Friday,

But in reply to a question, Mr Alam said that if any anchor spoke out against Pakistan, “we will take action” under the law.

He took exception to criticism of the government by anchors having dual nationality, calling upon them to examine the political and socio-economic orders of their adopted countries too.

The Pemra chief was critical of the managements of television news channels, saying that most senior officials ignored media ethics since they had never worked as journalist.

“Newspapers carry clarifications, corrections and rebuttal virtually every day, but TV channels never bother about these matters. The anchors seem to have crossed all limits.”

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2016