Islamabad: A recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, held at the PTV Headquarters under the acting chairmanship of Senator Sarmad Ali, brought to light several pressing issues in the media and broadcasting sectors. Key topics of discussion included the alleged misrepresentation of Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah in the film “Buleha,” the handling of cases under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), and grievances of Radio Pakistan pensioners.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the committee deliberated on the transfer of PECA cases to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and other issues such as the advertisement quota for regional newspapers and the allotment of plots to journalists. The NCCIA briefed the committee on social media statistics and the removal of objectionable content by Meta, clarifying that previously shared figures were based on publicly available data from Meta. The committee accepted this clarification and emphasized the importance of responsible reporting based on verified facts.
The transfer of PECA cases from provincial authorities to the NCCIA was also reviewed. Officials informed the committee that only nine cases from Sindh had been transferred, with the rest still pending. Senator Sarmad Ali directed that letters be sent to relevant authorities to expedite this process. Additionally, the committee addressed a notice issued to a newspaper columnist for alleged controversial remarks about the bureaucracy and stressed the need for the Press Council of Pakistan to examine such matters.
Another focal point was the film “Buleha,” which the committee criticized for distorting the peaceful teachings of Sufi saint Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah by associating them with violence. The committee recommended that the film’s producers change its name and remove objectionable content, or face potential blocking of its release.
The committee also addressed the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority’s allotment of plots for journalists, expressing dissatisfaction with delays in resolving issues related to the journalists’ quota. A sub-committee was constituted to oversee the implementation of recommendations, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was directed to review and revise existing policies.
Furthermore, the committee discussed the advertisement quota for regional newspapers and instructed the Press Information Department to ensure strict implementation of the policy. The meeting concluded with discussions on the grievances of Radio Pakistan pensioners, urging the Prime Minister’s committee to resolve these issues promptly.