PESHAWAR (July 25 2007): Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has observed with great concern that participants of some of the TV talk shows wrongfully accused the authority for granting permission to Maulana Fazlullah of Swat to run his FM radio station in Fazagat.

According to the press release of Pemra issued here on Tuesday, fact is that Pemra Ordinance does not extend to Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) and matters pertaining to electronic media in these areas are governed by the governor secretariat.

A couple of weeks before the law enforcing agencies and Maulana Fazlullah reached at an agreement regarding his FM radio station. As per the agreement Maulana Fazlullah made a commitment that he will not indulged into any type of activity, which is against the policies of the government with special reference to polio vaccination and other health services of the authorities concerned. Pemra was never a party to that agreement and its jurisdiction does not extend to Fata and Pata.

Pemra was established in 2002 through promulgation of an ordinance with a mandate to regulate the electronic media in the country and to ensure provision of healthy entertainment and information to public including satellite TV channels, FM radio stations, cable TV networks and other related electronic media.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:7/25/2007