ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Saturday notified the owners and news directors of television channels not to cover Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman’s press conference.
The directors of three private news channels, while speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that 24 News received these directions from Pemra through unofficial channels, including WhatsApp messages and text messages.
They also said that the director general of the media regulatory authority also phoned the channel administration to inform them about the decision.
One news director said, “This is not an official order but the news channels are still required to follow it or else face government backlash.”
It merits mention here that the JUI-F chief will be holding a press conference on Saturday (today) in connection with the party’s Azadi March which is scheduled to take place on October 31.
The news directors further said that though they are not facing any pressure from powerful quarters in connection with Fazl’s press conference, but government officials have been trying to pressurise news channels through unofficial means.
The directors of three private news channels, while speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that 24 News received these directions from Pemra through unofficial channels, including WhatsApp messages and text messages.
They also said that the director general of the media regulatory authority also phoned the channel administration to inform them about the decision.
One news director said, “This is not an official order but the news channels are still required to follow it or else face government backlash.”
It merits mention here that the JUI-F chief will be holding a press conference on Saturday (today) in connection with the party’s Azadi March which is scheduled to take place on October 31.
The news directors further said that though they are not facing any pressure from powerful quarters in connection with Fazl’s press conference, but government officials have been trying to pressurise news channels through unofficial means.