The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has prohibited TV channels from broadcasting live or recorded coverage of rallies and public gatherings being held in Islamabad on March 27 (today).
The move arrived just hours before the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Chief Imran Khan was expected to appear at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking protective bail in seven cases. In the prohibition order, PEMRA referred to a letter the media regulator received from law enforcement agencies concerning the security situation in the federal capital.
The letter noted that TV channels run live footage and images of violent mobs attacking the police and law enforcement agencies, according to the PEMRA notification.
“Live telecast of such footage on different satellite TV channels created chaos and panic among the viewers and police,” says PEMRA. “Such activism by mob not only jeopardizes law and order situation but also makes public properties and lives vulnerable.”
The TV coverage of rallies and public gathering by “any party, organization and individual” has been prohibited under Section 27(a) of the PEMRA Ordinance 2022 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007.
In case of violation, PEMRA will suspend the licence of the channel concerned “without any show cause notice in the public interest along with other enabling provisions of law”.
The regulator imposed similar restrictions on TV channels on March 18 when the former prime minister appeared at the Federal Judicial Complex for a hearing in the Toshakhana case. PEMRA has also banned airing of Khan’s live speeches thrice between November 2022 and March 2023, citing “hate speech against state institutions”.
