ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Thursday forbade the broadcasting of any content related to sitting Supreme Court and high court judges on electronic media with immediate effect.
In a notification, the regulator referred to previous directives wherein all licensees were directed to “refrain from telecasting any content against state institutions”.
“Despite repeated directives, satellite television channels are persistently discussing the conduct of honorable judges of superior courts and orchestrating a vilification campaign through airing slanderous allegations,” it said.
It stated that broadcasting any type of material that ostensibly criticizes the superior judiciary or refers to judge behavior is a flagrant breach of the relevant statutes and rulings of the Supreme Court.
It added that satellite TV channels are “indulged in non-stop coverage of public gathering and rallies and while covering those gathering and rallies slanderous and malicious content targeting state institutions is aired.”
“Telecast of such content is not in consonance with PEMRA Electronic Media (Programs and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015 and is also in violation of the Hon’ble Lahore High Court, Lahore following order in the matter of Writ Petition titled “Mian Ali Asghar Vs. Government of the Punjab and others” (2020 CLC 157),” it said.
The authority also directed all satellite TV channels to ensure that an effective Time Delay Mechanism is put in place and an “impartial editorial board” is constituted.
