A two-judge bench consisting of Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha A Malik had taken up the case filed by the media regulatory watchdog against ARY Communications Pvt Ltd, related to the broadcast of the drama serial ‘Jalan’, Dawn reported.

PEMRA had banned the broadcast of the drama serial due to complaints over its “objectionable” content in September 2020. However, the channel had approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) against the prohibition order, saying the media watchdog did not consult the council of complaints as mandated under Section 26 of the PEMRA ordinance. After the high court had allowed the appeal, PEMRA approached the apex court.

The Supreme Court declined the PEMRA’s petition, saying that PEMRA is bound to issue prohibition orders after consulting with the council of complaints.

To issue a prohibition order, the PEMRA ordinance Section 26 states that “the federal government should establish Councils of Complaints at Islamabad, the Provincial capitals and also at such other places as the Federal Government may determine. Council shall receive and review complaints made by persons or organisations from the general public against any aspects of programmes broadcast or distributed by a station
established through a licence issued by the Authority and render opinions on such complaints and each council shall consist of a Chairperson and five members being citizens of eminence from the general public at least two of whom shall be women.”

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One of the guest speakers in the Ramzan transmission is cleric Hanif Qureshi, who inspired Mumtaz Qadri to kill former Punjab governor Salman Taseer in 2011 for opposing Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws. Qadri had claimed after his arrest that he had been inspired to act by a 2010 sermon delivered by Mufti Qureshi in Rawalpindi, in which the cleric branded the likes of Taseer as liable to be killed under Islamic law.

During the Ramzan transmission, Faysal Qureishi had demanded action against people he thinks are blasphemers in front of several controversial clerics.

His remarks received widespread condemnation with many social media users calling him out for hatemongering and tagging PEMRA on the clips. However, later religious group Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan also spearheaded a campaign supporting the actor and targeting social media users criticising him.

In Pakistan, even allegations of blasphemy can result in mob lynchings– in 2008, three Ahmadis were killed because of incitement to violence during a Geo tv Ramzan transmission hosted by Aamir Liaquat.

Despite social media users demanding that PEMRA take action against the transmission, the media regulatory authority has remained silent.

However, PEMRA issued a show-cause notice to SUCH TV, and Geo News, for “airing footage” of the Quetta blast yesterday.

Chairman PEMRA issuing notices to channels What’s his agenda God knows better @Marriyum_A @CMShehbaz https://t.co/3GdQEHwd4L pic.twitter.com/mTfbWVDcu9

— Mohsin Raza KHAN (@mohsinrz) April 11, 2023

The PEMRA had earlier banned coverage of “unfortunate and unpleasant incidents” such as bomb blasts and firing incidents.

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PEMRA prohibited the live coverage of any rally or public gathering, imposing a ban on coverage of any party, person, or organisation.

According to a statement issued in the early morning hours today, PEMRA referred to a letter sent to the body by law enforcement agencies regarding the security situation in Islamabad.

It observed that satellite television channels run live footages/images of violent mobs, attacking on police and law enforcement agencies.

According to a statement, PEMRA referred to the clashes between PTI workers and law enforcement personnel outside Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence, saying it had “observed with concern” that satellite TV channels were “showing live footages (sic) / images of a violent mob, attacks on police and law enforcing agencies”.

The regulator warned that in case of non-compliance, the license shall be suspended under Section 30 (3) of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007, without any show cause notice in the public interest along with other enabling provisions of law.

The IHC granted Imran Khan interim bail in seven cases and restrained authorities from arresting him.

The former premier had approached the high court seeking protective bail in cases pertaining to clashes between PTI workers and police personnel during his earlier Federal Judicial Complex appearance.

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PEMRA prohibited the live coverage of any rally or public gathering, saying today a ban has been imposed on coverage of any party, person, or organisation.

According to a statement, PEMRA referred to the clashes between PTI workers and law enforcement personnel outside Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence, saying it had “observed with concern” that satellite TV channels were “showing live footages (sic) / images of a violent mob, attacks on police and law enforcing agencies”.

The regulator warned that in case of non-compliance, the license shall be suspended under Section 30 (3) of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007, without any show cause notice in the public interest along with other enabling provisions of law.

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Pemra bans coverage of #F9Park #Islamabad gang rape. pic.twitter.com/43oJVsbc23

— Ismat Raza Shahjahan ☭ (@IsmatShahjahan) February 6, 2023

The PEMRA also warned that in case of non-compliance, the licence of the television channel may be suspended without any show cause notice in the public interest along with other enabling provisions of law.

On February 2nd, a woman was raped in F-9 Park in Islamabad while she was with her male colleague. According to the FIR, two men raped the woman at a gunpoint and told her “not to come to the park at this time”.

This is not the first time PEMRA has banned the coverage of cases related to violence against women. The media regulatory authority also banned the coverage of the Lahore motorway gangrape incident, citing at the time that the media coverage “will diminish the evidentiary worth of the material collected by the prosecution”.

Meanwhile, there is an uproar regarding the PEMRA’s orders of banning the media coverage with some deeming the move “stupid”.

Earlier Same Order was issued with respect to Motorway Rape Case. I challenged that on Lahore High Court and same was suspended. PEMRA operates so whimsically.Identity and privacy of victim should remain intact rest should be covered. https://t.co/KOY8bjCCpr

— Abuzar Salman Niazi (@SalmanKNiazi1) February 7, 2023

A girl gets raped in Islamabad’s F9 park by armed men.
Police is busy in arresting/harassing political opponents.
And the State (PEMRA) responses with a ban on the coverage of the rape case on TV.
If you report it on TV, your license will get cancelled.
Full banana republic this! pic.twitter.com/EZ5ReyBimG

— Annus Raza (@annusraza) February 7, 2023

The incident has caused widespread outrage as several people protested in F-9 Park on Monday to “demand safe spaces for women”.

Today at F9 park to demand safe spaces so we can JUST breathe freely. I wish living in this country wasn’t like a constant battle of survival for us women. 💔 pic.twitter.com/vAdhcr5boC

— Ayesha Khalid (@AyeshDibs) February 6, 2023

Protesters also demanded that the State should guarantee women’s safety in the country, and they are protesting to send a message that “the onus is on the rapist.  Not our clothes, nor the place or the time, it is the Rapist. It is the system which produces rapists”.

Today protesters tied their dupattas on the gate of #F9Park #Islamabad
with various messages against the heinous rape. We hope that they serve as a reminder that public spaces are not safe for us and it is on the state to guarantee that safety instead of putting curfews on women pic.twitter.com/ScWQpTx0ma

— Zoya Anwer (@ZoyaAnwerNaqvi) February 6, 2023

He told her never stay in the park at night after raping her. We stood in front of the same park and sent the message that the onus is on the rapist. Not our clothes, nor the place or the time, it is the Rapist. It is the system which produces rapists. #F9Park pic.twitter.com/1xj4SepYXq

— Huda Bhurgri ♀️ (@HBhurgri) February 6, 2023

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