Pemra has issued a notification forbidding TV channels from broadcasting content that is contradictory to the spirit of "national interest".
Our reporter managed to bag an exclusive interview with a Pemra member to discuss the controversial notification ...
Reporter: Sir, can you elaborate a bit more on what this notification is really about?
Pemra: Haven't you read it?
Reporter: I have, but a lot of people seem to be a bit confused about what exactly constitutes the contradiction of the spirit of national interest...
Pemra: What was that?
Reporter: Sir, I asked what exactly constitutes the contradiction of the spirit of national interest?
Pemra: Did you really have to use so many words?
Reporter: Sir, I am only using the words that are in the notification.
Pemra: You don't have to repeat them to me. I wrote them.
Reporter: So, what exactly is the ...
Pemra: You don't have to repeat the question either.
Reporter: Okay. So, what's the answer?
Pemra: To what?
Reporter: To my question.
Pemra: Sorry, I can't answer that question.
Reporter: Why not?
Pemra: It's contradictory to the spirit of national interest.
Reporter: Excuse me?
Pemra: No, you can't be excused. You have put national interest in danger and bought a bad name to the country.
Reporter: Just by asking that question?
Pemra: Yes.
Reporter: But what else should I have asked?
Pemra: You could have asked what my favourite colour is.
Reporter: But the interview is not about you, sir. It's about the notification that your organisation has sent to TV channels.
Pemra: You have a problem with that?
Reporter: No. The truth is, I personally believe there should be a strict code of ethics that should guide TV channels during their coverage of sensitive issues.
Pemra: Hmm. Alright. But did you really have to use so many words?
Reporter: Well, not really, but I just wanted to ...
Pemra: Purple.
Reporter: Excuse me?
Pemra: Purple. My favorite colour is purple.
Reporter: That's nice to know, sir, but that's not what I asked.
Pemra: Then what did you ask?
Reporter: I asked, what exactly constitutes ...
Pemra: Ah, ah. Watch it now. It's a matter of national interest.
Reporter: What is, pray tell!
Pemra: There, you've done it again. That's treachery, you know. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
Reporter: I think we need to know what the notification is about. It is our right to know and your duty to tell.
Pemra: So many words.
Reporter: Okay then, will a simple, 'what' do?
Pemra: Yes, it will.
Reporter: Great. What?
Pemra: Purple.
Reporter: No, the notification.
Pemra: What?
Reporter: What are the things that contradict national interest ...?
Pemra: So many words.
Reporter: Okay, what contradiction national interest?
Pemra: Still, too many words.
Reporter: Okay, national interest, what?
Pemra: Yes, national interest very important.
Reporter: What contradicts it?
Pemra: Hate speech. Irresponsible reporting. Sensationalism. Criticism for the sake of criticism. Negativity. Nudity...
Reporter: Nudity?
Pemra: I said that.
Reporter: Yes, you did, but what nudity? On news channels?
Pemra: Yes. Have you ever seen a news anchor in his underwear? Terrible, terrible sight.
Reporter: On TV? Which news anchor?
Pemra: The treacherous ones.
Reporter: The ones who...
Pemra: Ah, ah. Watch it. National interest.
Reporter: Okay, then let me ask another question...
Pemra: Keep it short.
Reporter: Okay. Sir, there are some who say that certain folk are allowed to spout hate speech on TV, while others aren't. That this notification is not even-handed and...
Pemra: So many words. Why aren't you asking questions that are relevant to the topic?
Reporter: But this is quite relevant to the topic, sir.
Pemra: Biryani.
Reporter: Excuse me?
Pemra: Biryani. My favorite dish.
Reporter: But that's not what I asked.
Pemra: Why not?
Reporter: Our readers aren't interested in what your favorite dish is.
Pemra: Why not? Don't they eat food?
Reporter: I'm sure they do, but my question was that whether this notification is for all politicians and anchors or for just specific people?
PEMRA: So many words, so many words.
Reporter: Okay, how about if I just say, 'is it?'
PEMRA: Still too many words.
Reporter: Is?
PEMRA: Keep it short, keep it short.
Reporter: .......
PEMRA: Yes, that's the main gist of the notification. Have a nice day.
Reporter: But, I didn't say anything.
PEMRA: Exactly.
Reporter: But I ...
PEMRA: Ah, ah. National interest.