Notice to Pemra on ‘immoral’ dramas

E-Paper | April 30, 2026

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on a petition against exhibition of ‘immoral’ dramas, programmes and movies on television channels.

A retired major, Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, filed the petition and stated that Pemra authorities during the hearing of his application admitted that private TV channels had been showing immoral content.

He said the Pemra had failed to implement its code on media organisations.

The petitioner contended that the objectionable content had been badly affecting innocent minds of the young generation.

He sought court’s order for Pemra to ensure implementation of its code on TV channels with respect to content.

Chief Justice Ijazul Ahsan directed the Pemra to submit a detailed report about implementation of its code on TV channels by Jan 4.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015

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rana1

Nov 28, 2015 10:39am

About time.

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Beena Siddiqui

Nov 28, 2015 10:51am

Yes. Tv Dramas are crossing their limit and showing objectionable content. Drama Channels are family channels , but there are NOT SOME SCENES but the whole story and plot of some dramas which are against our society norms and nobody can watch it along with the family. In one drama a husband wife are divorced just for a medical treatment and still they are living and travelling together. In another channel drama , a second wife of a hero living with hero's friend in the same house without any relation with the hero's friend. Bedroom and rape scenes are very common now adays. In one TV drama rapist has been shown as a positive person and with story twists and turns , writer and director trying to get sympathies for him ....instead of the victim.

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PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Nov 28, 2015 10:52am

Greattttttttttt. After a ban on Internet sites like Youtube etc., get ready for a ban on TV channels. We are moving backward and I imagine only TWO TV channels will be left at the end PTV & PTV-World (where we watched how to connect the wire with iron kinda stuff).

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Abdulla Hussain

Nov 28, 2015 11:14am

These is the feeling of mass viewers that sometime now all is let loose, in order to compete & earn money producers of dramas & films have started to introduce low moral scenes. This is totally not acceptable in our society. it is the duty of PEMRA to implement code of conduct for ridding the society of all such bad things. Majority of the viewers are against such low moral entries in the dramas & films. They are using the wrong side of the coin to win.

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Abdulla Hussain

Nov 28, 2015 11:18am

@Beena Siddiqui : You are correct in your observation, it is about time PEMRA should take corrective measures to stop this alarming situation.

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Speechless

Nov 28, 2015 11:25am

And what about the Indian channels our cable operators are airing.Don't we find any objectionable content in them? What is pemra doing for that.

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Tariq

Nov 28, 2015 12:44pm

Channels are not controlled by permra. they show pirated and illegal channels recorded or even live. Definitely people in media are not as much professional and lack family values.

Recommend 0

TZaman

Nov 28, 2015 01:00pm

Do you think banning will solve the problem? No. Control your kids. Teach them what is wrong and right. As far as the strange drama plots, aren't they really happening in the neighborhood. Go out, and observe the real life drama --- equally twisted and strange.

Recommend 0

Realist

Nov 28, 2015 01:34pm

@PHILOSOPHER (from Japan) So what is wrong with that?

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Philosopher (from Japan)

Nov 28, 2015 01:59pm

@Realist banning something is not the ultimate solution. You can't stop technology to come into our homes. Did you ever check what our kids are watching thru FB, iPhone iPad? Did you ever assess what mobile night packages are doing in our society? Give them true awareness about right n wrong rather than banning anything. Hiding anything increases the curiosity about that.

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Secular Pathan

Nov 28, 2015 02:16pm

Ban does not make a difference, your ethical cultural values makes a difference.

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k k tiwari

Nov 28, 2015 02:35pm

we in India like Pakistanis dramas on Zindagi channel bcoz of social values at least they are family material not like many Indians dramas

Recommend 0

Dr Mazhar

Nov 28, 2015 03:05pm

@PHILOSOPHER (from Japan) PTV has been the best in quality of its dramas and other programmes, only its khabarnaama is not real.

Recommend 0

Haseena302

Nov 28, 2015 03:06pm

Why not bring another constitutional amendment and let state also define who is moral and who is not?

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kam

Nov 28, 2015 03:21pm

That's the reason groups like ISIS and TTP get lots of support. If you want the country to be free from religious extremism you must also keep in check the liberal extremists too. It's these liberal extremists that push moderate Muslims into to arms of religious extremism.

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khalid

Nov 28, 2015 05:46pm

and some dramas are have very immoral scenes especially from foreign dramas. women have indecent clothes and what our channels would do they would blur the front part of women instead of censoring the scene or not showing drama.

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Liza

Nov 28, 2015 05:47pm

Manage you kids & Ethics instead of media channels ??? isn't that funny ? the fact is that the MEDIA Channels / Drammas mold/contribute to our culture media is not just showing whats happening in our society instead its creating new ideas to make the society worse /spoiled & deteriorated media must be controlled & managed by some capable n diligent system

Recommend 0

dawn

Nov 28, 2015 07:20pm

About time someone spoke about this. Let us not be bollywood.

Recommend 0

TANDi

Nov 28, 2015 07:54pm

Old man going to court to ban tv channels. Generation gap???

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Abdulla Hussain

Nov 28, 2015 08:06pm

@k k tiwari; I wish our producers & drama bosses continues with good moral dramas, the way negative competition have started and the way lust for money has emerged, good family dramas will soon be a thing of the past. Supreme Court of Pakistan should take serious notice & stop the menace of producing and airing low moral dramas & movies immediately

Recommend 0

Agha Ata

Nov 28, 2015 08:48pm

Why is the process of sexual maturity labeled as immoral?

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Disgusted

Nov 28, 2015 08:50pm

There has been visible decline in our own Drama. There were times when here and across the border shops would start closing at 8 pm to watch PTV drama. Those dramas were clean and very close to real life. Don't expect Pervez Rashid to move. He has his hands full to defend Nawaz Sharif and his dubious policies.

Recommend 0

Rahat Ali

Nov 28, 2015 09:15pm

These turkish drama are so immoral, I can't believe Turkey is a Islamic nation! We need to stop this garbage immediately. Turkish drama do far more damage to our culture than Indian drama.

Recommend 0

Nov 28, 2015 09:30pm

yes like on Zindagi channel, only trash and immoral serials like Fariha are shown to muslim ummah to push it into hell. i protest...

Recommend 0

Nadia

Nov 28, 2015 09:41pm

Why so much conservatism? Why this idea of closing down something if you do not like it? Ever heard of a bird called freedom? Is it not simpler to flip the channel if you do not like the program? Why try subjecting the entire nation to your own twisted ideology? Is it not breeding the ground for extremism? Is this what Pakistan needs?

Recommend 0

Adnan

Nov 28, 2015 09:44pm

In society you can not force your personal views or your standard of morality onto the majority. Ratings of shows reflect majority acceptance of dramas and TV channels do not show dramas if they garner low ratings.

Recommend 0

Syed Ahmed, Canada

Nov 28, 2015 09:47pm

What about Indian dramas and films that are available in abundance in every nick and corner of Pakistan - are they moral.

Recommend 0

Muzaffar Ali

Nov 28, 2015 09:59pm

...yes morality begins at home....but dramas should set high moral standards. Even if it is against reality, but every effort must be to show universal, timeless principles in plot and theme and scenes.

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Bhagwan(luminous one)

Nov 28, 2015 10:37pm

I as an Indian believe that there should be moral censorship on television dramas because people who watch these shows are not having censorship capacity to not to watch such shows and channels, I support Chaudhry Zaheeruddin on this issue. India should also follow moral censorship.

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ravi vancouver

Nov 28, 2015 11:51pm

@Beena Siddiqui You are right, nobody can play with religious emotions and Pakistan culture. All TV dramas and movies whether Pakistani or foreign which don't meet the required moral and ethics should be banned. Even Internet content accessible in Pakistan should be monitored so that it does not corrupt the minds of public. Religious emotions and cultural standards are more important to Pakistanis than anything else.

Recommend 0

illawarrior

Nov 29, 2015 05:39am

If you don't like it, don't watch it. Shows without viewers do not last long.

Recommend 0

Rick_james

Nov 29, 2015 06:15am

Well done LHC. I am shocked to see such vulgar indian movies and dramas being shown in my beautiful country Pakistan. PEMRA is just snoozing.

Recommend 0

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