The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued directives to all satellite TV channels

FOE Link or motive by PPF

Confirmed

Case Update Status

No action was taken till date

Summary of Case

"On May 10, 2022 the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued directives to all satellite TV channels to refrain from airing content against state institutions. “It has been observed that a few satellite TV channels are airing content which [is] tantamount to casting aspersions against state institutions, i.e. armed forces and judiciary,” the statement issued by the regulatory authority noted. It mentioned that airing of such content violates the directives issued by the Authority, provisions of Pemra Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisement) Code of Conduct 2015 and the principles laid down by the superior courts. “… all satellite TV channel licensees are hereby directed to follow the principles laid down in the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan passed in suo moto case no 28 of 2018 and the judgment of the Islamabad High Court passed in Criminal Original No 270/2019 dated 25-11-2019 and ensure strict compliance to the relevant provisions of Pemra laws,” the statement read. According to the statement following are the provisions: Section 20(f) of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007: A person who is issued a license under this Ordinance shall comply with the codes of Programmes and advertisements approved by the authority and appoint an in-house monitoring committee, under intimation to the authority, to ensure compliance with the code. Rule 15(1) PEMRA Rules: The contents of the Programmes and advertisements which are broadcast or distributed by the broadcast media or distribution service operator shall conform to the provisions of Section 20 of the Ordinance, these rules, the code set out in the Schedule-A and the terms and conditions of the license. Provisions of Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015: 3(16). Fundamental principles:- The licensee shall ensure that no content is aired which contains aspersions against the judiciary or armed forces of Pakistan. News and current affairs Programmes:- The licensee shall ensure that Programmes on sub-judice matters may be aired in an informative manner and shall be handled objectively: Provided that no content shall be aired, which tends to prejudice the determination by a court, tribunal or any other judicial or quasi-judicial forum. The authority further directed all satellite TV channels to ensure that an effective Time Delay Mechanism is put in place and an impartial and independent editorial board be constituted as required under Clause 17 of the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisement) Code of Conduct 2015 in order to ensure that their platform is not used by anyone for uttering contemptuous remarks in any manner whatsoever against any state institutions. “In case of any violation observed legal action under Section 27, 29, 30 and 33 of Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007 shall be initiated,” it warned."

Category of Incident

Censorship

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

Reported By

The News

Date of incident

10

Month

May

Year

2022

Name of affected person

No person affected

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

All national television channels

Other affected organizations

All national television channels

Action by

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)

City

Nationwide

Province

Nationwide

Designation

Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

Professional category

News channels

Age of victim

Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

Marital Status

N/A

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

Date of compensation announcement by government: Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

Date of compensation paid by government: Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

Amount of compensation announced by others: Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

Date of compensation announced by others: Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

Date compensation paid by others: Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No

Court where case was presented: Not presented in any court yet

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Not presented in any court yet

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case was not presented in any court

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

Employer organization

Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Not applicable, PEMRA issued directives to TV channels

Press club 2:

Press club 3: