Pemra serves notice to News One for airing 'defamatory' clips about NAB chairman

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued a show-cause notice to News One TV channel for airing what it called "defamatory" news items and clips in which National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Javed Iqbal was allegedly shown in conversation with a woman, it emerged on Friday.

Some footage and a few audio clips — first aired by News One — in which a male could be heard talking to a woman and making inappropriate remarks at various points had emerged earlier this week. NAB had denied that the audio clips had anything to do with its chairman, branding them "baseless, fake and based on lies".

In the notice sent to the chief executive officer of M/s Airwaves Media Pvt. Ltd. (News One), a copy of which was obtained by DawnNewsTV, Pemra stated that the TV channel had on May 23 "repeatedly flashed" breaking news "targeting" the NAB chairman along with audio and video clips.

According to the authority, "the channel continued claiming that the defamatory statements and clips were being aired in the public interest", but it stopped airing the news items and issued an apology around an hour later which stated that the clips were found to be "unconfirmed and unverified". The broadcaster also apologised to the NAB chief for airing the news, the notice said.

Pemra reminded the channel that "airing such defamatory and false propaganda [and] maligning a dignitary and head of an important institution amounts to sheer violation of [the] Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015" and Pemra Ordinance 2002.

The regulatory body has asked News One to respond within seven days "as to why legal action may not be initiated against the channel for violating aforementioned Pemra laws".

The channel's CEO has also been directed to appear for a personal hearing at the Pemra headquarters in Islamabad on May 31, in person or through a representative.

If the broadcaster fails to comply with the directives, Pemra said it would initiate ex-parte proceedings against the media outlet.

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Comments (36) Closed

ALI

May 25, 2019 01:40am

Big fish apparently cought by small net. If this piece of information is fake, the perpetrators should be brought to justice. And, if it is true, the NAB Chairman must resign.

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John

May 25, 2019 01:48am

Isn't it same Pemra which gave notice for cabinet reshuffle NEWS? Why no action should not be taken against Pemra for that?

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Syed A. Mateen

May 25, 2019 02:18am

The video has become viral on the social media and every one who so ever watch TV is aware about the situation and also know about the clarification made by NAB office. It is unfortunate that some TV channels to score their points air breaking news without accessing its pros and cons.

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Khan

May 25, 2019 02:25am

TV 1 staff should be Shamefull for airing in Ramadan such a defamatory video .Responsible persons should be exposed and punish exemplary by courts.

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aslam khan

May 25, 2019 02:30am

If these video were made by a black mailer then how some unknown woman had access to his high security office. Game over for Chairman.

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MALIK

May 25, 2019 02:43am

That is a very serious violation. Don't close it temporarily, just shut down permanently. Supension for few months or imposition of a fine is just pin pricking for them. We have enough channels broadcasting talks shows, shouting, yelling, screaming at each other. Once you close the channel then, everyone would listen.

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Qaiser Ahmed

May 25, 2019 02:48am

This chairman should resign or be fired and replaced with one whose actions against the corrupt VVIP will show better results than what we have endured so far under the present chairman.

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Bitter Truth

May 25, 2019 03:06am

What defamatory!!!! It was quite obvious and clear that NAB chairman misused his power and tarnished sanctity of his position!!! Being NAB chairman does not give him immunity from wrongdoings

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adnan

May 25, 2019 03:06am

People have the right to know about the character of head of public servants. Public interest has been served.

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Amjad Durrani Engineer USA

May 25, 2019 03:12am

Let us put a stop to these TV studio based chicken worriers airing fake news to sensationalize, aiming at putting aspersions on anyone without checking the authenticity of material. The timely action taken by PEMRA must show some teeth and not fizzle out with usual warnings. It must result in anchor spreading fake news, being fired without any compromise and network strapped with heavy fine, to deter others. The NAB must unearth the facilitators behind this sordid affairs and take them to task.

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Pervez

May 25, 2019 03:19am

Nab chaiman should sue the channel. This is irresponsible and damaging

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Anwar Syed. St.Louis. MO. USA

May 25, 2019 03:31am

TV channels found guilty must be severely punished with fines and prison terms so others will learn the lesson from it. Lie should be crime such as in many countries.

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Bhaijan

May 25, 2019 04:02am

News one should be banned.

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Farooqui

May 25, 2019 04:23am

Can anyone throw light who was the woman and who recorded it - probably the woman herself. Facts are needed before blame is imposed

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fairplay

May 25, 2019 04:51am

The job of news media is to report verified news, instead they do the opposite! Verification before airing, not apologies afterwards. A harsh sentence should be imposed with a maximum fine.

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James

May 25, 2019 05:12am

News 1 has shown clearly why media has a bad name in Pakistan and this is a classic example of irresponsible media. Can they tell us how they got it, how much they paid for it and what checks they did to ensure nothing was doctored.

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khan

May 25, 2019 06:12am

Instead sending notices to TV channel their is a need of powerful commission to investigate the NAB chief,

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Zak

May 25, 2019 06:14am

Shut it down.

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M&M

May 25, 2019 06:18am

7 days? Shut them down first and then give them 7 days? What a waste of resources and publics time! All these regulatory institutions are becoming a joke!

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Concerned

May 25, 2019 06:43am

Shameful act by chairman...why is Pemra protecting it

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Lahore Vivek

May 25, 2019 06:53am

No smoke without fire

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Pakistani

May 25, 2019 06:53am

@adnan, the way you know what was discussed on the ifthar party of bilawal? Thats not how things work... So don't slap some strange standards on this man..

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fairplay

May 25, 2019 07:03am

Who owns and funds this channel?

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fairplay

May 25, 2019 07:03am

@Bitter Truth, Indian troll

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Jamshed

May 25, 2019 07:07am

Why is Imran Khan not taking action against the owner? Shameful

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Azad J

May 25, 2019 07:42am

Now I know why Dr Shahid Masood left news one!

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Syed D meerza

May 25, 2019 07:46am

JIT should be formed and strict action should be taken, just apology should not be enough.

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M. Khan

May 25, 2019 08:02am

This lustful old man does not deserve to be chairman of accountability anything let alone NAB. Throw him out and prosecute him for misuse of his authority. His lustful behavior is worthy of its own accountability and strict punishment. Shameful.

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Robert Powers

May 25, 2019 08:05am

We'll see some major arrests soon (AZ, FT, HS etc) or NAB chairman will be forced to resign. A new NAB vice-chairman was appointed a month ago (Hussain Asghar) he's a well known PTI supporter and considered to held the view that all of these politicians should be rotting in jail and if the NAB chairman resigns, he'll be the acting chairman for a very very long time.

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Alba

May 25, 2019 09:16am

They may have been paid to do it.

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Tarique paul

May 25, 2019 11:25am

Zirdari MUST be indirectly involved in this latest attempt to divert attention from his misdoings.

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WayToGo

May 25, 2019 11:31am

What about ppl who are bullied !!!!

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Saad

May 25, 2019 01:31pm

@John, Close this channel because owner is wanted in NAB, who was unfortunately sitting in PM house, now removed.

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moona

May 25, 2019 06:11pm

Well, are they TRUE?

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Sameer

May 26, 2019 04:56am

Every one is in on this. The gov is no longer interested in accountability so this will serve as an excuse to cool down the people.

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azhar

May 26, 2019 05:28am

Time for NAB chairman to resign. Nab chairman is unable to bring back looti Hoi do at back to pakistan. He is unable to take action for corruption against big wigs of the country who bankrupt Pakistan. If he cannot do his job and prosecute big wig people who were involved in corruption. Better to resign and let someone else take the charge. Is justice only for poor people and rich get away with everything?

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