‘Low IQ’ Vawda and ‘over-smart’ Abbasi get the boot which they brandished during the live TV show

By Shoaib Wahab 

• Kashif Abbasi banned by PEMRA for 60 days
• Faisal Vawda banned for 14 days by PM Khan
• Social media hails the decision 
• Shame will remain attached with both Vawda and Abbasi

      Federal Minister Faisal Vawda  and ARY anchor  Kashif Abbasi got the boot which they had presented in their program. What an irony and what a shame for both these guys.    

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has banned the broadcast of Kashif Abbasi’s programme ‘Off the Record’ on ARY News for 60 days and Prime Minister banned Vawda for 14 day following his (Vawda)’ shameful stunt on a live TV show the other day that received backlash from all and the sundry. Even PM Khan got upset what this low IQ minister did.     

Dawn perhaps the only newspaper which showed the mirror to the PTI government on this bizarre incident. It said “Vawda could not pull another rabbit out of his hat, he pulled out a boot instead. Then he placed it on the table, live on TV.” — what a shame which will remain attached with both Vawda and Abbasi.  

It said the military-style boot stayed put on the table, as did Mr Vawda and the show host in the studio. The opposition guests, however, did not. They walked off the set in disgust. By his theatrics, Mr Vawda embarrassed the guests, the host, his party, politicians in general, the military and ordinary citizens. The only person he did not embarrass, apparently, was himself.    The shameful creature seems not finding fun like driving fast cars or riding big bikes these days.    

“Placing the boot on the table, Mr Vawda not only ridiculed the institution of the military, he humiliated all political parties, including the one he expresses loyalty to. He may have intended to make fun of the opposition but ended up reinforcing perceptions about the PTI’s own weak political credentials. His taunting was misplaced and mistimed. It is true that the spirit of cooperation that moved bickering parties in parliament to sign into law the process of extending the tenure of military chiefs has been questioned — and justifiably so. But politicians can at least avail themselves of the momentum and work together on other public-oriented legislation,” Dawn says. Opposition leaders have rightly heaped criticism on Mr Vawda’s crude theatrics. The PTI leadership should do the same.

   On the other hand PM  Khan has demanded an explanation from  Vawda for using teh army boot to ridicule opposition parties PPP and PML-N.   “Prime Minister Imran Khan has demanded an explanation from federal minister Faisal Vawda for his behaviour in a private channel’s talk show,” Firdous Ashiq Awan tweeted. “The prime minister has restricted Faisal Vawda from appearing on any talk show for the next two weeks.”

   PEMRA in his notice said:  “During the programme under discussion, one of the panelists (Vawda) “performed [a] very unethical act” while starting his arguments on the subject being discussed.

Subsequently, arguments made by Mr Vawda were not only extremely frivolous and derogatory but also an attempt to debase a state institution,” the notification dated Jan 15 read. Whereas, role of programme host Mr Kashif Abbasi was quite unprofessional who actually did not intervene or stopped (sic) that unethical act performed by one of the panellists during a live show rather took the entire incident casually and kept smiling/cherishing such occurrence,” it said, adding the media body was taking this action under Section 27(a) of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (amendment) act 2007.    

Section 27(a) of the ordinance states: “Broadcasting or re-broadcasting or distributing any programme or advertisement if it is of the opinion that such particular programme or advertisement is against the ideology of Pakistan or is likely to create hatred among the people or is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order or is likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity or endangers national security or is pornographic, obscene or vulgar or is offensive to the commonly accepted standards of decency.”    

PEMRA said that Abbasi’s appearance is also banned for the 60-day period. According to Pemra, Abbasi cannot conduct his show, appear on ARY News or any other television channel as a guest/analyst or expert.  “It appears to be a willful attempt to debase and demean a state institution by dragging it unnecessarily in a debate”.  

“The act of the host is also in violation of clauses 3(l)(e,j), 4(7)(b), 4(10), 5, 13 and 17 of Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct, 2015, read with Section 27(a) of Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007,” the notification stated.    

Pemra says, in case of non-compliance by the television channel, action can be taken under Pemra laws “which may result in suspension/revocation of satellite TV channel conferred to M/s ARY Communication Pvt Ltd ARY News”. Pak Destiny 

وزیراعظم عمران خان نے وفاقی وزیر فیصل واوڈا سے نجی ٹی وی کے ٹاک شو میں ان کے رویے پر وضاحت طلب کر لی۔وزیراعظم نے فیصل واڈا کی کسی بھی ٹاک شو پر آئندہ دو ہفتوں کیلئے شرکت پر پابندی عائد کردی ہے۔

— Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousPTI) January 16, 2020

PEMRA Bans programme " OFF THE RECORD" on ARY News for 60 days. pic.twitter.com/TuknaIlzWn

— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) January 15, 2020