Pemra prohibits reside protection of rallies, public gatherings in Islamabad at the moment – Pakistan

The Pakistan Digital Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday restricted reside protection of rallies and public gatherings throughout the federal capital on March 27, hours earlier than PTI chairman Imran Khan was expected to seem earlier than the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom.

In accordance with a press release issued in early morning hours at the moment, Pemra referred to a letter despatched to the physique by legislation enforcement companies concerning the safety scenario in Islamabad.

It noticed that satellite tv for pc tv channels run reside footages/photos of violent mobs, attacking on police and legislation enforcement companies.

“Such footage or photos have been seen on TV with none editorial oversight throughout the current standoff between political get together employees and legislation enforcement companies in Lahore and Islamabad whereby, the violent mob used petrol bombs, injuring armless (sic) policemen and blazing (sic) police automobiles.”

It added that the reside telecast of such footage on completely different satellite tv for pc TV channels “created chaos and panic” amongst viewers and the police. “Such activism by mob not solely jeopardises legislation and order scenario but additionally makes public properties and lives weak”, it cautioned.

Pemra mentioned airing such content material could be in violation of a number of Supreme Courtroom judgments.

The regulator, whereas exercising powers vested beneath Section 27(a) of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (Modification) Act 2007, mentioned it prohibited “reside/recorded protection of any sort of rally, public gathering, procession by any get together, organisation and particular person and many others. in Islamabad Capital Territory for at the moment i.e. March 27, 2023”.

An analogous ban had been imposed by Pemra on March 18 as nicely, when the PTI chairman appeared within the Federal Judicial Advanced for a hearing in the Toshakhana Reference.

The identical day, violent clashes have been reported between PTI supporters and police outdoors the judicial complicated. Within the violent confrontation, a contingent of legislation enforcers and PTI supporters used anti-riot gear towards one another with teargas used from each side to push the opposing facet again.