The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued a warning to television broadcasters instructing them to remain “vigilant” and not give space to such individuals and a media boycott of “hate mongers, perpetrators, and their facilitators”.
The Pemra notification, which was released on Wednesday, said that while the Constitution gives people the right to free speech, there are some restrictions on this right.
However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has claimed that the ruling alliance of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government has imposed a complete media ban on party chief Imran Khan.
Pemra’s notification mentions the events of May 9 and said that hate mongers representing political groups are polluting the innocent minds of the people against the Federation of Pakistan and state institutions. This misguided trend should be condemned and those involved in promoting such activities should be boycotted on the media as they are harming the peace and tranquility of the country.
“In view of the above situation, all satellite channel licensees are directed to remain vigilant and not to inadvertently promote any hate campaigner, perpetrators and their facilitators. Furthermore, all licensees are directed to comply with pemra’s Code of Conduct 2015. ‘
The notification also referred to the relevant Pemra laws.
Neither Imran Khan nor the PTI or any other political party has been named in the four-page notification.
However, PTI has claimed in a tweet that the PDM government has banned media coverage of Imran Khan.
