Hamid Mir violated PEMRA code of conduct by interviewing Zardari.

Pakistan’s senior anchor-person Hamid Mir violated PEMRA code of conduct by interviewing former president Asif ALI Zardari.

According to the reports of Baaghitv, a private TV channel Geo anchor-person Hamid Mir violated PEMRA code of conduct by interviewing former president and co-chairman of Pakistan People Party Asif Ali Zardari. The interview was to be put on air at 08:00 pm sharp but was taken of-air by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulating Authority.

Asif Ali Zardari, who is currently behind bars facing inquiry in multiple corruption scams, including money laundering case through fake accounts case, can not be interviewed according to law. Asif Al Zardari was allowed to attend National Assembly session due to production order issued by National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and according to law, a person who is produced on the order issued by National Assembly speaker or chairman of standing committee of National Assembly can not be interviewed by any media, as he is facing trial on charges and has to be taken back to the jail after the conclusion of assembly sessions or committee session.

This is in defiance of PEMRA code of conduct Section 4 clause 9, which bars from interviewing any person who is ongoing trial as it may jeopardize the ongoing trial, inquiry.

It appears anchor-person Hamid Mir has gone out of way to give media coverage to accused former president Asif Ali Zardari. It must be noted that Hamid Mir’s younger brother Faisal Mir is die-hard worker of Pakistan People’s Party and awarded PPP ticket during the by-election in NA-120 constituency of Lahore in 2017, which fell vacant after Supreme Court deposed then prime minister Nawaz Sharif on corruption charges.