ISLAMABAD – The regulator for television and electronic media has issued directives prohibiting entities under its regulation from giving screen time to “proclaimed offenders/absconders” from courts of law, which includes various journalists and members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) cited orders from the Sindh High Court in October 2014, which stated that proclaimed offenders/absconders have no right to receive notifications.
Section 27 of PEMRA Ordinance 2002, as amended by the PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007, prohibits media coverage of proclaimed offenders on electronic media. The media should refrain from airing any news, report, statement or tickers of the individuals mentioned in para 2 in compliance with the principles laid down in PLD 2016 Karachi 238. The matter has been referred to the appropriate authorities.
If any registered member is found violating the orders, legal action would be initiated against them.
The list includes 11 names, almost all of which pertain to PTI party members or members of the wider media fraternity who have leaned toward PTI. Most of these individuals are believed to be not in Pakistan anymore.
The individuals now barred from appearing on Pakistani television include:
Syed Akber Hussain Shah (S/o Syed Hazoor Hussain)
Muhammad Sabir Shkair (S/o Muhammad Shakir) – Journalist
Moeed Hussain Pirzada (S/o Peerzada Mahyudin) – Journalist
Wajahat Saeed Khan (S/o Syed Shafqat Khan) – Journalist
Adil Farooq Raja (S/o Umer Farooq Raja) – ex-serviceman and YouTuber
Haider Raza Mehdi (S/o Syed Ghafar Mehdi) – YouTuber
Shaheen Sehbai (S/o Qadoos Sehbai) – Journalist
Ali Nawaz Awan (S/o Muhammad Nawaz Awan) – PTI party member
Farrukh Habib (S/o Muhammad Arshad) – PTI party member
Murad Saeed (S/o Saeed Ullah) – PTI party member
Hammad Azhar (S/o Mian Muhammad Azhar) – PTI party member.
Picture courtesy: The Friday Times.
