The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority on Monday warned TV channels to refrain from airing content that "ridicules" state institutions, especially the judiciary and the army, or face retribution such as suspension of transmission and imposition of a fine without any prior notice.

The Pemra had issued a similar warning a week ago wherein it warned private electronic media from airing content against the armed forces and judiciary.

In its reiteration today, the regulatory authority said it had taken notice of broadcasting of "negative, insulting and hateful material" against state institutions during live coverage of TV programmes, talk shows and various public rallies on news channels.

Pemra said it had already been urging the TV channels to follow guidelines and the court directives on the matter. "[However,] channels have been broadcasting very disturbing material in the last few weeks, which falls under the category of insulting the state institutions and tantamount to propaganda against them," it said.

"Moreover, all satellite TV channels are further directed to ensure that an effective time-delay mechanism be put in place and an impartial and independent editorial board be constituted ... in order to ensure that their platform is not used by anyone for uttering contemptuous remarks in any manner whatsoever against any state institutions."

The media watchdog instructed all satellite TV channels be more careful while covering public meetings, rallies and electronic media (advertising and programs) under the Code of Conduct 2015.

"All the channels are finally warned that in case of any intentional/unintentional error in this regard, Pemra Ordinance 2002 and Section-27 of the Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007 will be enforced and respective talk show/programme will be taken off the air without any notice."

The regulatory authority also warned that a fine up to Rs1 million, revocation of the channel's license along with the suspension of transmission can result in case the Pemra orders were to be flouted.

The Army also recently took a "strong exception" to "intensified and deliberate attempts" to drag its name into the country's ongoing political discourse by "some political leaders, journalists and analysts".

The military's media wing had noted that attempts to involve the armed forces and its senior leadership in the political discourse were "manifest through direct, insinuated or nuanced references made by some political leaders, few journalists and analysts on public forums and various communication platforms, including social media".

Opinion

Editorial

Cohesive response
Updated 14 Mar, 2025

Cohesive response

Solely militarised response has failed to deliver, counterterrorism efforts must be complemented by political outreach in Balochistan.
Agriculture tax
14 Mar, 2025

Agriculture tax

THE changes in the provincial agriculture income tax laws aimed at aligning their rates with the federal corporate...
Closing the gap
14 Mar, 2025

Closing the gap

PAKISTAN continues to struggle with gender inequality in its labour market. A new report by the ILO shows just how...
Shocking ambush
Updated 13 Mar, 2025

Shocking ambush

The sophistication of attack indicates that separatists likely had support from experienced external players.
Suffocating crisis
13 Mar, 2025

Suffocating crisis

THREE of the five countries with the most polluted air on Earth are in South Asia. They include Pakistan, which has...
Captive grid
13 Mar, 2025

Captive grid

IT is a common practice: the government makes commitments with global lenders for their money and then tries to...