ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media and Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Saturday barred TV channels from telecasting live coverage of the court appearance of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, rallies and public gatherings.
In a notification, the regulatory body said: “Today, a ban has been imposed on (live) coverage of any party, person, or organisation.”
The restriction order prohibits any procession or rally from occurring today at the Islamabad judicial complex, where Imran Khan is scheduled to appear.
The electronic media regulator claimed that it had been noted with worry that satellite TV channels run live footage and photos of a violent mob, attacks on law enforcement authorities and police. It said the prohibition order on live coverage has been issued under Section 27 of the Pemra Ordinance 2001.
“Such images/footage were shown on TV without any editorial checks during a recent standoff between law enforcement agencies and political party workers in Lahore where a violent mob used petrol bombs, blazing police vehicles and injuring armless policemen. The live telecast of such footage on several satellite TV channels created panic and chaos among the Police and viewers,” the Pemra said
The Pemra noted that such activism by the mob jeopardises the law-and-order situation and makes public properties and lives vulnerable.
The media regulator said that airing such content violates a judgment of the top court of Pakistan.
“For today, March 18, 2023, including from the judicial complex in Islamabad, the competent authority, while exercising powers vested under Section 26(a) of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007, prohibits live/recorded coverage of any kind of rally, public gathering, procession, etc.”
The regulator warned that, in the event of non-compliance, the licence (TV channel) would be suspended by Section 30(3) of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by the Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007 without needing a show-cause notice and other permissive legal requirements.
The PEMRA also suspended the transmission of the BOL news channel for covering the rally led by Imran Khan and the attack by Police at Zaman Park.
