The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights (SFCHR) has taken the position that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) cannot exercise jurisdiction over web TV content. PEMRA had recently called for regulating web TV and Over The Top (OTT) content in the country.
In its deliberations on the issue, the Senate Committee was chaired by Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. The Committee considered the question of whether such proposed regulation by PEMRA contravened article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees freedom of expression to citizens.
The arguments presented in favour of PEMRA regulating such online content did not convince the Senate Committee.