PEMRA issues show cause notice to private TV Channel  

PEMRA issues show cause notice to private TV Channel  

ISLAMABAD: (APP) Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Friday issued a show cause notice to television channel 92 for dismissing a senior journalist in violation of the employment agreement.

The show cause notice was issued after PEMRA received a complaint from Rawalpindi Union of Journalists (RIUJ) about dismissal of senior journalist Sagheer Ahmed Chaudhry from his job.

According to the complainant, Chaudhry Sagheer Ahmed was dismissed by the television channel without conveying any reason and in violation of the employment agreement.

In the letter sent to the news channel, General Manager Operations PEMRA stated that Galaxy Broadcasting Private Limited (Channel 92) should make it clear whether it is interested in defending itself or not and respond to the notice by November 18, 2016 4 p.m or otherwise PEMRA is authorized to take action on its own.

PEMRA asked Channel 92 to respond to the letter in seven days as to why a fine of Rs one million should not be imposed on it or why its licence should not be suspended or revoked under the PEMRA law.

RIUJ said termination of the journalist was unbelievable as at the start of this year, the television channel declared Chaudhry Sagheer best reporter of the year.

The dismissal has created a sense of insecurity among the working journalists and staff associated with the channel, RIUJ said.