The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority (PEMRA) on Thursday directed all the satellite TV channel licensees to exercise “utmost care” while reporting over “tension between Pakistan and Iran”.
“All the licensees are directed to avoid telecasting/ breaking any unsubstantiated news on recent development surfaced between Pakistan and Iran,” PEMRA said in a letter addressed to all the licensees operating in “news & current affairs and regional languages”.
The Authority urged them to verify the related information from the relevant institutions before broadcasting or airing.
“Licensees are expected to present factual information / reports through their transmission and support state narrative at this crucial time as and when released from the relevant institution,” it added.
PEMRA said all the news and programming heads and their respective teams should be sensitized to verify each and every information received on their desks or Whatsapp groups, and “aired only after necessary fact checking, as any false reporting may cause unrest and insecurity among the public”.
It warned that if any violation was observed, reported or identified through any complaint, “the Authority shall be constrained to proceed under Section 26, 29-A and 30 of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act-2023”.
In another press release, PEMRA advised national electronic media to abide by the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The directives issued by the PEMRA stated that all its licensees were obliged to abide by the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan in the run of the elections being held on February 8.
The code of conduct applying to print, electronic, digital media, and social media influencers was released by ECP on October 14 last year for the national media and outlined various guidelines required to adhere to during the campaign and polling.
The ECP specified that the media should refrain from expressing biased opinions that undermine Pakistan’s ideals, sovereignty, security, independence, and the integrity of the judiciary and other national institutions.
