Top header Banner
Top header Banner
Middle top Banner

MATV rapped by Ofcom for biased Kashmiri news

MATV has been rapped by Ofcom for two different shows it broadcast in September last year.

During routine monitoring, Ofcom identified two pieces of current affairs content, broadcast in English, that referred to the policies and actions of the Pakistani state, including within Pakistani-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The two pieces of content consisted of ‘Kashmir Now’ and ‘Anti-Pakistan Protest in Geneva’.

In response to the two shows that were flagged up, MATV said that it tries to cover all events “which are of interest to South-Asian viewers”. It added that “Our entire focus is on community. It does not matter if it is India-Pakistan-Bangladesh or Sri Lankan origin. We try our best to show them the true situation on the ground in that part of the world”. MBCL also said that “We are doing live shows all the time regarding Pakistan and lot[s] of Pakistani journalists and politicians have spoken about [the] Pakistani point of view on” MATV.

MATV said that ‘Kashmir Live’ is a daily series which covers issues relating to the region of Kashmir the areas of food, culture, local events, education, sports and politics. It added that the programmes “contain the voice of Kashmiries from both sides of Kashmir” and “if possible we also get interviews from Local community leaders, businessmen, Govt. Officials etc”. MATV also said that the series “show[s]
lot of content from both sides of Kashmir depicting their local issues. and criticism of both sides of the Govts and also positive work if any”. Further, the Licensee cited “one more programme that runs normally twice a week called Sarhad Ke Do Rukh” which MBCL described as “a balancing program for Kashmiries on both sides of [the Indian-Pakistan] border” and which shows Pakistani views on Kashmir. In this context the Licensee provided a recording of an edition of ‘Sarhad Ke Do Rukh’, broadcast on 7th September 2016 at 22:30.

Ofcom considered that MATV failed to preserve due impartiality in both Kashmir Now and Anti-Pakistan Protest in Geneva. Ofcom’s decision was therefore that both these programmes were in breach of Rule 5.5. Ofcom was also concerned that the Licensee’s representations in this case demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding about its obligations under Section Five of the Code. Ofcom therefore is requesting that the Licensee attends a meeting to discuss its compliance in this area.