ISLAMABAD- The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Monday ban media from covering rallies or other public events in real-time today in Islamabad.
While Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan appears before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and, as expected, the Judiciary Complex to secure bail in numerous instances, the media watchdog today barred live and recorded coverage of all rallies and public meetings in the federal capital.
The PEMRA statement stated: “Concern has been expressed over the live broadcasts on satellite TV channels of violent mobs attacking police and law enforcement. TV screens showed footage and photos of a recent confrontation between members of political parties and law enforcement in Lahore and Islamabad, where a violent mob used petrol bombs to injure armless policemen and set police vehicles on fire, without any editorial scrutiny.
It continued by stating that the live broadcast of these videos on several satellite TV stations caused pandemonium and panic among the public, including the police. Such mob involvement puts lives and public property at risk in addition to endangering law and order. Furthermore, The airing of such content violates the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan in the suo moto case.
The media regulatory body has forbade coverage for the second time in a month since violence broke out between PTI supporters and Islamabad police during Imran Khan’s previous hearing.
