Case Update Status

PEMRA just issued a notice

Summary of Case

On Dec 3, 2020, Private TV channels were issued show-cause notices for airing former finance minister and PML-N leader Ishaq Dar's interview, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.

The institution, in a tweet, said: "PEMRA has issued show-cause notices to private TV channels for rebroadcast[ing] former finance minister Ishaq Dar's interview."

Dar, in an interview on BBC News' show "HARD talk", had spoken on several issues — the National Accountability Bureau, his return, 2018 general elections, former premier Nawaz Sharif's allegations against the army, among other things.

In October, after Nawaz's fierce speeches, and as the Opposition formed an alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement — to oust the government, PEMRA had banned the broadcast of speeches, interviews, and public addresses by absconders and proclaimed offenders.

"A self-explanatory complaint (has been) received from Mr. Muhammad Azhar Siddique against the several news channels in particular who aired the interview/speech/ public addresses of an absconder or a proclaimed offender," read PEMRA's notice.

PEMRA said that it was found upon investigating the complaint that news channels were violating the earlier directive of the Authority which had been issued on May 27, 2019, on proclaimed offenders.

The Supreme Court, in 2017, had declared the former finance minister an absconder when he had failed to appear before it as he was in London, reportedly undergoing medical treatment.

Dar, since then, has been residing in London.

Category of Incident

Censorship

ICCS Status

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

ICCS Group: 08031-Acts against freedom of expression

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Acts against freedom of expression

Reported By

The News

Date of incident

3

Month

Dec

Year

2020

Name of affected person

No person affected

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

All Private TV Channels

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)

City

Nationwide

Province

Nationwide

Designation

N/A

Professional category

N/A

Age of victim

N/A

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: N/A

Court where case was presented: N/A

Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: N/A

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

N/A

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: N/A

Press club 2:

Press club 3: