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Eye in the sky
They control the horizontal. They control the vertical. They, in this case, are the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, better known as Pemra. And at the helm of this watchdog organization is Iftikhar Rashid, a former police officer, who was handed the reins of the organization in February 2005. The Pemra chairman was recently in Karachi serving as chief guest at a seminar on modernization of the cable industry and its responsibilities sponsored by the organization. Images caught up with the chairman to discuss the current electronic media scenario in Pakistan in the light of the current breakneck media liberalization. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Q: In your view, what is Pemra’s role?
A: Pemra has a two-fold role. Primarily, the authority was set up to facilitate the growth of media because Pakistan, on the world map, is not in a very significant position as far as the electronic media is concerned. The other equally important role is to allow media to grow in a disciplined manner. For instance the kind of development that is taking place in Pakistan, especially in the cable TV sector, is totally unregulated. There are many other objectives of Pemra, but primarily it is the aforementioned two. The others are to provide better opportunities to the people for news, entertainment, etc, and take the whole thing to the grassroots.
Q: How do you draw the line between freedom of choice and censorship?
A: That’s a very difficult question to answer in specific terms. If you keep in mind the requirements of the state and that of the government, then your role is very clear. Pemra’s here to ensure that the sovereignty of the country and its cultural, religious and social values are not, in any manner whatsoever, violated. But there are many types of governments. A particular government may wish the media to play a particular role to suit its designs. In that Pemra doesn’t have any role.
Q: Governments come and go. Will there be a continuity to Pemra’s policies, or will they change with each dispensation?
A: No, the policies won’t change with governments. They’ll change with the requirements of the state and how we progress and evolve as a society. That’s one of the basic reasons why Pemra has been taken away from the information ministry. It is now part of the cabinet division. Pemra should play an absolutely neutral and transparent role and give a level playing field to the electronic media.
Q: Do you think people need to be shepherded and told what to watch?
A:
Q: What is your opinion of the type of programming that is being broadcast on FM stations and local satellite channels?
A: By and large I’m quite happy with them. There have been instances where we’ve advised people that what they’re doing is wrong and not legal and they’ve listened to us. So we haven’t had any major problems. For instance, there was the issue of FM 103 broadcasting live news from the BBC. FM radio is meant for local needs. In Karachi you have a number of FM stations and they have their own cultural ambience. The BBC is already on air. You can listen to it on the medium or short wave. Why should they come on to a FM station which is limited to a 40-50km radius? That’s a violation of the licence conditions. Under the licence you cannot sell your rights to anybody. I’m not questioning the veracity or quality of BBC news. It is one of the best in the world. But FM 103 and Pemra had no control over the editorial content of the news. They could broadcast anything.
Q: Is the ban on Indian news channels still in force?
A: Yes it is. If India’s prepared to air our channels and our news, which they still aren’t, then I’d say we’d be reciprocal.
‘People feel that we are trying to gag the electronic media. That is not the intention. We’re not here to gag or strangulate it but to regulate the media in a way that our country needs,’ says Iftikhar Rashid
Q: Coming back to cable operators, there’s been a ban on stations like M-Net for airing objectionable material. How effective has this ban been and how do you plan on enforcing it on the illegal cable operators?
A: Unfortunately till recently the ban was not effective. All kinds of material was being aired on cable networks. When I came I saw that the enabling provisions under the law were not good enough to enforce the law itself. Another thing was that there was total apathy. From the ’90s the cable networks started growing in both urban and rural areas, and it wasn’t till 2002, after 12 years or so, that the Pemra ordinance came into being. Also, most of these cable operators operate from shops and houses. When you go and check them it gets a little embarrassing because there are women and children present. You can’t violate the sanctity of anybody’s house. As for illegal cable operators, we’ve started a campaign and so far we’ve netted about 200 operators across the country, who want to be licensed. With the passage of time, if we can legalize them and licence them, then we can regulate them.
Q: There have recently been changes in the Pemra ordinance. Would you like to elaborate?
A: There have been some technical additions to the law. There are three or four fundamental changes we have proposed, and it is up to parliament to agree or not to agree to those. One relates to cross-media ownership. That provision has been added (the amending bill tabled by the government was passed in the National Assembly after this interview was conducted. The bill is now in the Senate for approval).
The other change relates to the enabling clauses. For instance in the Pemra ordinance that we have today there is no mechanism whereby you can recover a fine that has been imposed. Any fine that is imposed has to be recovered as land revenue. Also, if you have a complaint against certain cable operators or channels concerning the airing of illegal or objectionable material, you have to give a notice and reasonable time to the other party to explain their position.
Lastly, Pemra officials have been given the authority to seize equipment in case of serious violations. There has been a lot of opposition from various quarters, partly politically motivated. But generally people feel that we are trying to gag the electronic media. That is not the intention.
When the cable operators’ association came to see me in Islamabad, I had a lengthy discussion with them. I told them that these provision are only meant for those violating the law. ‘Do you intend to violate the law?’ I asked them. ‘Then why are you against these provisions?’ They were satisfied. I told them we’re not going to victimize anyone. We’re not here to gag or strangulate the electronic media. We’re here to regulate the media in a way that our country needs.
Q: There’s been quite a lot of hue and cry raised in the media about pirate FM radio stations being set up by religious and sectarian groups, especially in the NWFP. Is that a major concern for Pemra?
A: That is an issue. There are two types of stations in the NWFP: Those operating in Fata and Pata, beyond the jurisdiction of Pemra, with the other type operating from the settled areas, but from inside mosques. I had a meeting with the previous set-up in the NWFP. I intend to meet the governor again because we need the total support of local authorities to enforce these things.
You see, to operate these stations you don’t need a lot of money. Now there are contraptions available that cost you a few thousand rupees and you can start broadcasting from your mosque or your hujra.
It’s very difficult to raid these places because of the sanctity. It has to be a very well co-ordinated, concerted campaign in which the provincial government, Pemra and most of all the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) work together. The PTA has a set-up under it called FAB — the Frequency Allocation Board. They have devices whereby they can jam these stations. That’s another approach to the problem.
Q: Considering your background in law enforcement, how do you find your current position?
A: When I was first asked if I would like to take up this position, I didn’t know what Pemra was. So I’m trying to settle down. It’s something totally new to me. I was dealing with the media as a police officer, but in a totally different way. I used to keep away from the press. I’m trying to learn and I’m trying to adjust. As for the enforcement part, of course I don’t feel alien to that at all.
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