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Journalists protest warning

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has described a fresh warning to television channels from the electronic media regulatory authority as a “threat” that would restrict coverage of the upcoming elections.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued the warning on Tuesday, ordering television channels not to air live audience phone-ins or face cancellation of licence, and imprisonment up to three years or a Rs 10-million fine or both.

A notification from PEMRA did not name any programme or television channel but said that “despite several warnings, some satellite television channels are continuing to air live coverage and are taking live telephone calls from the public, which could incite people to violence.” It called this a gross violation of the PEMRA laws.

The notification also asked television channels to install time-delay equipment so that they would not violate the law against live broadcasts.

“It’s not only a warning but a threat to all TV channel and attempt to silence the free media,” a PFUJ statement said, demanding the withdrawal of the notification.

The journalists’ union said if PEMRA had a particular complaint, it should provide the evidence and follow “a proper legal course.”

The PFUJ said it feared that the government wants to impose a complete ban on TV channels before elections or convert a majority of them into state-controlled media.

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