i. In the context of a completely transformed media sector which, despite its low international ranking, is widely seen by the people of Pakistan as a reflection of extraordinary new freedom and vibrancy, it is unfortunate that the Commission is obliged to consider the issues of media-related corruption. ii. In doing so, the Commission is taking note of the several allegations and statements about media-related corruption contained in the petitions considered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court which then appointed this Commission to study the aspect of media-related corruption as part of the nine Terms of Reference (TORs) given to the

a. State-owned PBC and PTV do not come within the purview of PEMRA. They are governed respectively, by the PBC Act, 1973 and the Companies Ordinance, 1984. b. Even though a non-partisan Caretaker Government will be in office during the Elections 2013 phase and therefore is expected to direct PBC and PTV to ensure non-partisan and impartial coverage of political content, it would be helpful for ECP to also issue its own directives to PBC and PTV to remind them that they are also subject to the Code of Conduct/Code of Media Content declared by ECP. c. While APP is

a. In keeping with well-established global practices also accepted by the Government of Pakistan and the Election Commission of Pakistan and as applied during several general elections held in the past three decades, international organizations such as the European Union, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, SAARC, and other institutions with a specialized focus on the conduct of elections, have monitored and observed the election process in the country and have published detailed reports and documents. b. In several respects, such reports by overseas observers’ have helped to pinpoint malpractices including attempts at pre-poll rigging and irregularities during polling itself. c. Such past

a. In one of the preceding sections of these Recommendations i.e. Section 3 “Through civil society networks”, we have noted and recommended that the non-official associations which already exist in Pakistan that have been engaged in advocacy and capacity-building work to promote democratic values and practices and to enhance electoral participation have a specific role to render in Elections 2013 towards helping media to be impartial and independent. b. In this section, the aim is to focus attention on the principle that citizens at large, in their capacity as audiences for the content projected by media, also have an obligation

a. As the principal participants and protagonists in the Elections phase, the political parties of the country and the several hundreds of candidates seeking votes during the campaign phase have a legal obligation to abide by the terms and conditions prescribed by the ECP with regard to the expenditure on advertising in media, with regard to their inter-actions with media when they make statements, or give interviews or participate in broadcast programmes etc. b. Political parties and candidates contesting in the Elections 2013 have already gone through unprecedented scrutiny of their assets, internal party elections, past and present financial conditions,

a. During its short yet significant tenure, the Caretaker Government has a formidable responsibility. In conditions of poor governance and frequent incidents of violence and terrorism, the Caretaker Governments at the Federal level and four Provincial levels have to ensure stable and secure conditions that will enable the conduct of free and fair elections in a peaceful manner. b. The tragic, callous killings of working journalists in Pakistan in recent years, the terrible injuries and losses suffered by such journalists and their families and the environment of intimidation and threats that journalists and media houses are continuously exposed to in

a. In the case of electronic media, PEMRA has a three-fold responsibility whose fulfillment should be overseen by ECP. (a) To ensure that license-holders of satellite TV channels abide by the terms on which licenses have been issued to them, failing which action should be promptly taken as per the law and rules. (b) To exercise special vigilance during the final Election phase to monitor whether the Code of Ethics/Code of Media Conduct declared by ECP are being respected and practiced by electronic media and to report promptly to ECP when any violation occurs. (c) To sensitize the 3159 plus