ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's electronic media regulator Authority (PEMRA) Wednesday issued a show cause notices to 17 television channels after they broadcast deadly graphic images of the victims of a plane crash.

A Bhoja Air Boeing 737 came down and burst into flames in fields near Islamabad last Friday as it tried to land, killing all 127 people on board -- the Pakistani capital's second major crash in less than two years.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Wednesday ordered the channels to explain themselves over what it called "horrific and insane" coverage of the disaster.

In a strongly worded statement, PEMRA said the channels broadcast "unedited live footage of blood, gore, dead and mutilated bodies amid a private plane crash."

The regulator said it was considering legal action against the broadcasters, calling their approach "extremely unethical and irresponsible".

"There is no harm in taking edge over other channels in dissemination of timely and accurate news but the quest must not be to take lead in indecency or irregularity," the statement said.

"It's high time that the channels must realise their responsibility and define the do's and don'ts." AFP