ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned the broadcast of speeches, interviews and public addresses by absconders and proclaimed offenders.
The development comes a few hours after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif slammed the government in his second address to the PML-N’s central working committee meeting which was aired on numerous news channels in Pakistan.
“A self-explanatory complaint received from Muhammad Azhar Siddique against the several news channels in particular who aired the interview/speech/ public addresses of an absconder or a proclaimed offender,” read PEMRA’s notice.
The PEMRA order calling on all TV channels to abide by regulations to not run speeches, recorded or live, of absconders or proclaimed offenders.
PEMRA said that it was found upon investigating the complaint that news channels were violating the earlier directive of the Authority which had been issued on May 27, 2019 on proclaimed offenders.
The notification reminded news channels that they were bound to comply with PEMRA laws as well as parameters laid down in PLD 2019 Supreme Coun 1 and PLD 2016 Karachi 238. A copy of the provisions of the ordinance was attached with the notification:
“Clause 4(10) of the Code of Conduct is very important because by discussing and reviewing the contents of a programme prior to the time it is aired or recorded, the licensee can ensure that the contents of such programme conform to the Code of Conduct. Therefore, licensees can make certain that programmes on sub judice matters are aired in an informative manner and are handled objectively [Clause 4(3)absconders.”
Earlier today, Nawaz had called out the government for what he termed its “dual standards of accountability”, saying that he can “no longer remain quiet” on the matter.
“Nawaz Sharif is not made of the kind of stuff that can stand remaining quiet on dual standards of accountability,” he said via video link, adding that “no one should try to silence him”.
He said that although Prime Minister Imran Khan “is to blame” for the country’s current state, “it is those who brought him into power who are truly responsible”.
“They will have to answer,” Nawaz said.
As he began his address, he spoke of how it had been a long time since such an address had taken place. “I am addressing you all after a long time. And in these two-and-a-half years we have all endured much.”
“But it is with God’s grace we are seeing each other now,” Nawaz had said.
“When I look at the state the country is in, it saddens me deeply,” the former prime minister had stated. “We were on such a great path to progress and look at where we are now.”
Nawaz said he sees a world of a difference between the Pakistan of a few years ago and the one before us now. “I do not understand why this has happened.”
“We were so prosperous until 2018. Our tenure lasted 2013-2018 and with your prayers and God’s mercy and your support from 2013-2017, I was prime minister,” he had said.
“Me and my team who are sitting here and also those not here, such as Shahbaz Sharif who is in jail, paying for crimes not committed — together, we were changing the fate of Pakistan.”
“These are not empty words, you yourself have witnessed the fruits of our efforts,” Nawaz said.
Earlier, it was revealed that Prime Minister Imran Khan had allowed for the PML-N supremo’s first speech since he went into exile in London, to be aired on TV channels last month.
