The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned the airing of a TV drama titled Hadsa, citing its “objectionable content/theme.” The drama, which was being aired on Geo TV, was reportedly based on the 2020 motorway gang-rape case, in which a French-Pakistani woman was raped in front of her children.
The ban on Hadsa has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have welcomed the decision, saying that it was necessary to protect the victims of sexual violence. Others have criticized the ban, saying that it is censorship and that it stifles freedom of expression.
The ban on Hadsa was announced by PEMRA on September 1, 2023. The authority said that the drama had been banned because it “violated the PEMRA code of conduct and was not in the interest of the public.”
The code of conduct prohibits the broadcast of content that is “indecent, obscene, vulgar, defamatory, or likely to incite hatred or discrimination.” It also prohibits the broadcast of content that is “likely to adversely affect the reputation of Pakistan or its citizens.”
PEMRA said that Hadsa violated these provisions because it “portrayed a heinous crime in a graphic and disturbing manner.” The authority also said that the drama “could have triggered the trauma of the victim and her family.”
The ban on Hadsa has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have welcomed the decision, saying that it was necessary to protect the victims of sexual violence. They argue that the drama could have retraumatized the victim and her family, and that it could have also encouraged other men to commit similar crimes.
Others have criticized the ban, saying that it is censorship and that it stifles freedom of expression. They argue that the drama was a work of fiction, and that it should not have been banned simply because it dealt with a sensitive topic.
The debate over the ban on Hadsa is likely to continue. It is a complex issue with no easy answers. However, it is an important issue to discuss, as it raises questions about the role of media in society and the right to freedom of expression.
The ban on Hadsa is a reminder of the challenges that Pakistan faces in tackling sexual violence. It is also a reminder of the power of the media to shape public opinion. The debate over the ban is likely to continue, and it is an important debate to have as Pakistan seeks to address the issue of sexual violence.
Other relevant information:
- The ban on Hadsa is the latest in a series of censorship cases in Pakistan. In recent years, the government has banned a number of films, TV shows, and books for allegedly being offensive to Islam or promoting obscenity.
- The censorship of Hadsa has sparked a debate about the role of media in Pakistan. Some people believe that the media should be free to air all content, regardless of how controversial it may be. Others believe that the media has a responsibility to protect the public from harmful content.
- The debate over the ban on Hadsa is likely to continue. It is a complex issue with no easy answers. However, it is an important issue to discuss, as it raises questions about the role of media in society and the right to freedom of expression.
