PEMRA bars live TV coverage of blasts, shootings and terror attacks
Order dated 13 October tells satellite channels to drop live airing of blasts, shootings and attacks, and to use only officially verified details; CPJ urges a pullback.
On 13 October, PEMRA ordered all satellite TV channels not to broadcast, rebroadcast or air live coverage of ‘unfortunate’ or ‘unpleasant’ incidents, including explosions, blasts, shootings and terrorist attacks.
Channels may air only information verified by relevant government departments or law enforcement, must use time delays, and must keep independent editorial boards, with legal action threatened for non-compliance.
The order repeats limits first issued in February 2023, when PEMRA said channels had aired unverified and speculative material during militant attacks.
The Committee to Protect Journalists called on authorities to withdraw the restrictions; Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting did not reply to CPJ’s request for comment.