Ahmed Ali Butt, the entertainer and rapper, recently expressed his views on the proposed regulations for Ramazan game and entertainment shows by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. He urged the ministry to focus on addressing “real issues” instead of criticizing “high-quality game shows.”
In a series of Instagram Stories, Butt listed the things he believed should be banned, mistakenly assuming that the ministry had called for a complete ban on Ramazan transmissions, which it hadn’t. He emphasized the need to ban fake news, paid commentators, propaganda, and shows that disrespect religion while promoting fear and lies.
However, he acknowledged that high-quality game shows are a much-needed source of entertainment for the whole family, especially during Ramazan. Butt tagged Fahad Mustafa, who hosts a Ramazan transmission, and expressed pride in such shows. He suggested that the ministry focus on addressing the real issues facing the country and assured them that they would soon receive tickets for Fahad Mustafa’s show.
Government Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, recently sent a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, requesting the integration of six core values in Ramazan broadcasting in response to public complaints.
The letter emphasized the need to avoid controversial issues and professional opinions, and called for religiously knowledgeable and educated individuals to host Ramazan transmissions. It also stressed the importance of modest clothing and appearance by the hosts and participants, to respect the sanctity of the Holy month.
Furthermore, the letter requested that game and sports shows not be aired before or after Sehar or Iftar timings, and that sports should not be included in religious programs. It highlighted the importance of promoting religious harmony and Islamic teachings during these transmissions, while prohibiting unethical and inappropriate advertisements.
The letter concluded by requesting the implementation of the proposed guidelines and instructing the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to advise all TV channels to adhere to the guidelines in letter and spirit.
Feel free to share your thoughts on the story in the comments section below.
