Pak’s digital media watchdog bans reside protection of rallies, public gatherings in Islamabad

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority issued this communique after regulation enforcement businesses stated Imran Khan’s look earlier than the Islamabad High Court may result in a potential regulation and order scenario in and across the federal capital.

Islamabad,UPDATED: Mar 28, 2023 03:46 IST

The watchdog noticed that satellite tv for pc tv channels run reside footage/pictures of violent mobs attacking police and regulation enforcement businesses.

By Press Trust of India: Pakistan’s digital media watchdog banned the reside protection of rallies and public gatherings within the federal capital on Monday, hours earlier than former prime minister Imran Khan was scheduled to seem earlier than a high court docket right here searching for interim bail in seven circumstances.

The PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) issued this communique after regulation enforcement businesses stated Khan’s look earlier than the Islamabad High Court (IHC) may result in a potential regulation and order scenario in and across the federal capital.

The watchdog noticed that satellite tv for pc tv channels run reside footage/pictures of violent mobs attacking police and regulation enforcement businesses.

“Such footage or pictures had been seen on TV with none editorial oversight throughout the latest standoff between political get together staff and regulation enforcement businesses in Lahore and Islamabad whereby, the violent mob used petrol bombs, injuring armless (sic) policemen and blazing (sic) police autos,” it observed.

It said that airing footage on different satellite TV channels “created chaos and panic” among viewers and the police.

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“Such activism by mob not only jeopardises law and order situation but also makes public properties and lives vulnerable,” it warned.

PEMRA said airing such content would be tantamount to the violation of several Supreme Court judgments.

Earlier this month, PEMRA banned satellite television channels from broadcasting live and recorded speeches of Khan with immediate effect, hours after the former premier dodged arrest and made “provocative statements against state institutions.”

Khan had lashed out at government leaders, alleging they stashed their wealth overseas and were given protection in legal cases by former Pakistan Army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Across Islamabad, authorities on Monday imposed Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code that barred the gathering of people and warned of arrests in case of the violation of this order.

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Meanwhile, the IHC granted interim bail to Khan in seven different cases registered against him following clashes at the federal judicial complex here earlier this month when the former prime minister arrived from Lahore to appear in a hearing in the Toshakhana case.

A total of 143 cases have been registered against Khan, mostly on terrorism charges.

Khan, 70, has been repeatedly claiming that his life is under threat because of which he was abstaining from attending court hearings.

Khan, after surviving an attack on him during a rally in Wazirabad in Punjab province in November last year, named Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah behind the assassination attempt on him.

He also blamed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a senior ISI officer for their role in the assassination bid.

Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote, becoming the first Pakistani prime minister to be voted out by the National Assembly.

Since his ouster, he has been demanding snap polls in the country to remove the “imported authorities” led by Prime Minister Sharif.

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Published On:

Mar 28, 2023