PEMRA imposes ban on live coverage of events outside Islamabad Judicial Complex today

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Saturday banned the live coverage of events outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex, where PTI chairman Imran Khan will be arriving for a court hearing shortly.

Referring to the clashes between PTI workers and law enforcement personnel outside Imran’s Zaman Park residence, PEMRA notified that it had “observed with concern” that satellite TV channels were “showing live footages (sic) / images of a violent mob, attacks on police and law enforcing agencies”.

In an advisory issued today titled “Prohibition order on live coverage under Section 27 of Pemra Ordinance 2001”, the electronic media regulatory authority stated that it has been observed with concern that satellite TV channels are showing live footage and images of a violent mob, attacks on police and law enforcing agencies.

“Such footage/images were seen on TV screens without any editorial oversight during a recent standoff between political party workers and law enforcing agencies in Lahore wherein, a violent mob used petrol bombs, injuring armless policemen and blazing police vehicles. The live telecast of such footage on different satellite TV channels created chaos and panic among the viewers and Police.”

“Such activism by the mob not only jeopardises the law and order situation but also makes public properties and lives vulnerable,” PEMRA stated,

The regulator, while exercising powers vested under Section 27(a) of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA(Amendment) Act 2007, “hereby prohibits live/recorded coverage of any kind of rally, public gathering, procession by any party, organisation and individual etc. for today i.e. March 18, 2023, including from the Judicial Complex, Islamabad”.