The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has banned live or recorded coverage of any kind of rally, public gathering and procession by any party, organization and individual for today (Saturday). The authority has also imposed the same restrictions for events in the Judicial Complex in Islamabad.

The order has been issued in a letter titled, “Prohibition order on live coverage under Section 27 of Pemra Ordinance 2001”.

The media regulator said that it has been observed with concern that satellite TV channels are showing live footage/images of a violent mob, and attacks on police and law-enforcement.

“Such footage/images were seen on TV screens without any editorial oversight during a recent standoff between political party workers and law-enforcing agencies in Lahore wherein, a violent mob used petrol bombs, injuring unarmed policemen and [setting fire to] police vehicles. The live telecast of such footage on different satellite TV channels created chaos and panic among the viewers and police.”

“Such activism by a mob not only jeopardises law and order but also makes public properties and lives vulnerable.”

If these directives are not followed, PEMRA said a channel’s license shall be suspended under Section 30 (3) of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007, without any show cause notice in the public interest along with other enabling provisions of law, it said.