Freedom of press (or lack thereof) during the rule of the PDM government

[MenInG]

The government on Saturday instructed the Pakistan Electronic Media and Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to reverse a ban on television channels from broadcasting or rebroadcasting PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s press conferences.

According to a statement released by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the media watchdog to ensure the continued implementation of legal requirements under Article 19 (freedom of speech) of the Constitution.

The statement said that the direction to lift the ban was given under Section 5 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002.

“The prime minister has established a new tradition by ending the bitter traditions of Imran Khan’s era,” the information minister said, adding that the government did not believe in “what Imran Khan did during his four years in power” with the then opposition leaders and politicians.

 

[Bewal Express]

To show what clowns Bajwa and his yes men have become,we had the bizarre situation where dufus setup to take the murder the blame was giving time to justify his religious nut reasoning but the victim IK was banned from air. Idiots

 

[daytrader]

ARSHAD SHARIF CASE: SALMAN IQBAL CALLS FOR LEGISLATION TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS

President and CEO ARY Digital Network Mr Salman Iqbal has appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial to take notice of the martyr senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s case, ARY News reported on Monday.

Mr Salman Iqbal appealed to the CJP Justice Umar Ata Bandial to take steps for ordering comprehensive legislation for the protection of the journalists after the martyrdom of Arshad Sharif.

“I want to appeal to the chief justice to ensure the freedom of speech. Protection should be provided to me, my family and the journalist fraternity across the country who are the voices of the state of Pakistan and Pakistanis.”

He said that he has answered all questions of the investigation committee probing Arshad Sharif’s case. “Despite answering [by the investigators] in 1 hour and 45 minutes’ session, a fake allegation is being levelled against me for not cooperating with the committee]”

Salman Iqbal maintained that government’s seriousness in investigating the murder is evident before everyone. He urged the chief justice to hold transparent investigation into Sharif’s assassination case and bring the murderers to justice.

In his open letter, Iqbal elaborated on how the incumbent government is busy victimising him and his institution. He said the incumbent government is busy lodging fake cases against him and his institution, adding, the revengeful moves would be intensified.

He demanded the chief justice to provide protection to all journalists including him whether they are present in Pakistan or abroad.

“Our brother Arshad Sharif was martyred for choosing the path of truth. Time has now arrived to make comprehensive legislation for the protection of journalists,” he concluded.

Arshad Sharif’s assassination
The senior journalist and former ARY News anchor, was killed in Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23 where he was living in self-exile.

Kenyan police first said that Arshad Sharif was killed in a case of “mistaken identity” but since the seasoned journalist’s post-mortem and his body’s transfer to his home country, several Kenyan news outlets have not only questioned the police’s conduct but have raised questions over the manner in which he was killed.

ARY

 

[MenInG]

Hassaan Khan Niazi, nephew of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, was re-arrested in a separate case on Monday when he was leaving the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) after securing pre-arrest bail in three cases.

Mr Niazi had obtained bail from the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in cases registered against him and other PTI supporters in connection with violence that took place on Feb 28 and March 18 when Mr Khan appeared in the FJC.

The judge confirmed Mr Niazi’s bail in two cases registered on Feb 28 and gran*ted him pre-arrest interim bail in the FIR registered with the Counter Ter*rorism Department (CTD) on March 18 when Mr Khan was supposed to be indicted by a trial court in the Toshakhana case.

Due to rioting outside the main entrance to the FJC, trial court judge Zafar Iqbal was left with no option but to defer the indictment and marked Mr Khan’s attendance while the former prime minister sat in his vehicle parked outside the complex.

 

[daytrader]

Bol News journalist Siddique Jan taken into custody by Islamabad police

The capital police picked up the bureau chief of Bol News channel, Siddique Jan from his office and took him away in a private vehicle to an undisclosed location.

A police officer told Dawn that a case is likely to be registered against Mr Jan upon the instructions of a senior officer.

In a video that was shared on social media, Mr Jan was purportedly asking PTI supporters to fire tear gas shell on police at the FJC. Police PRO Jawad Taqi was not available for comment.

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Please attend this protest for PTI SMT members in front of Islamabad Press Club and other press clubs across the country! <br><br>Friday - March 31 - 3pm<br>Outside Press Club in your city<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BehindYouPTISMT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BehindYouPTISMT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ReleaseAzharMashwani?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ReleaseAzharMashwani</a> <a href="https://t.co/rFmFNYpzK8">pic.twitter.com/rFmFNYpzK8</a></p>— PTI (@PTIofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1641586193467932672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[daytrader]

BAN ON COVERAGE OF BOMB BLASTS, FIRING INCIDENTS ‘ILLEGAL’: AEMEND

The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) has slammed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for an ‘illegal’ ban on the coverage of bomb blasts and firing incidents, ARY News reported on Monday.

The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) said in a statement that the ban on the coverage of bomb blasts and firing incidents by the PEMRA is ‘illegal’.

The association said that the PEMRA is continuously harassing the TV channels and using all tactics to pressure the management of the TV channels.

...
https://arynews.tv/ban-on-coverage-of-bomb-blasts-firing-incidents-illegal-aemend/

 

[daytrader]

Rawalpindi court moved to seize former army man’s properties

Police have approached a sessions court for seizure of properties belonging to an ex-army officer who is in the limelight these days for his anti-establishment vlogs and social media posts.

Adil Raja, the ex-army officer, went to the United Kingdom last year following the ouster of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government through a no-confidence vote in parliament.

He is active on Twitter and an ardent supporter of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The ex-army officer has also been very critical of the new government as well as the military establishment accusing them of hatching a conspiracy to remove Mr Khan from power.

Adil Raja was nominated in a case registered by Rawalpindi’s Banni police under Section 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The police alleged that he was ‘hiding’ somewhere deliberately to avoid legal course and requested the sessions court to order attachment of his properties.

As per the police report, Adil Raja owns a 10-marla residential plot in Phase-8, Bahria Town; a five-marla commercial plot in Commercial Squire, Bahria Town; an apartment in Askari-4 and two vehicles — Toyota Hilux Revo and Vigo.

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

Attacks on journalists rise by 60pc

At least 140 cases of threats and attacks against journalists, media professionals and media organisations were reported in Pakistan over the past year, a report showed on Sunday, indicating an annual increase of over 60 per cent.

The annual Pakistan Press Freedom Report, prepared by the media rights watchdog Freedom Network, showed that Islamabad was the riskiest place to practise journalism in Pakistan, as 56, or 40pc, violations took place in the city.

Punjab was the second worst, with 35 (25pc) cases of violations, followed by 32 (23pc) cases in Sindh.

The report, released ahead of the World Press Freedom Day celebrated on May 3, noted that the country’s media environment became riskier and more violent in recent months, as the number of attacks surged 63pc to 140 between May 2022 and March 2023 from 86 in 2021-22.

The report also documented the killings of at least five journalists in Pakistan in the period under review.

“The escalation in violence against journalists is disturbing and demands urgent attention,” said Iqbal Khattak, the executive director of Freedom Network, which tracks press freedom violations around the year and publishes the annual report.

“Attacks on independent journalism block access to essential information, which is especially damaging during the ongoing political and economic crises when the public needs reliable news to understand the issues and respond to them,” he said.

“It is ironic that Pakistan in 2021 became the first country in Asia to legislate on the safety of journalists, but one and a half years later, the federal and Sindh journalists’ safety laws have not helped a single journalist resulting in increasing violence against them,” Mr Khattak said.

...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1750236

 

[MenInG]

And the nerve of this guy

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On World Press Freedom Day, I pay glowing tributes to journalists across the world, particularly those in Pakistan for the commendable work they are doing to inform & educate the people. The environment in which they work is often full of challenges & risks and yet they never…</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1653673678998220800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Bewal Express]

And the nerve of this guy

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On World Press Freedom Day, I pay glowing tributes to journalists across the world, particularly those in Pakistan for the commendable work they are doing to inform & educate the people. The environment in which they work is often full of challenges & risks and yet they never…</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1653673678998220800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He should also added- i commend our Generals for killing innocent Journalists like Arshad Sharif

 

[MenInG]

A prominent Pakistani television journalist known for his public support of former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been missing for two days, raising fears for his safety.

Sami Abraham’s family and Karachi-based independent BOL television, where he works, said on Thursday that he had been abducted.

Abraham’s disappearance was first announced in a police tweet late on Wednesday, hours after he went missing. In a news announcement the same day, BOL TV said Abraham was taken by unidentified men.

Abraham has long publicly opposed the government of Khan’s successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and is a critic of Pakistan’s powerful military, which has directly ruled the country for nearly half of its 75 years of independence.

Abraham’s brother, Ali Raza, filed a police complaint that said eight people in four vehicles intercepted his brother’s car on his way back home from work in the capital, Islamabad, and took him away. His driver was unharmed.

Abraham’s disappearance came two weeks after another pro-Khan journalist, Imran Riaz Khan, went missing. Pakistani police and intelligence agencies have denied detaining him.

In a statement late on Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said it was “deeply disturbed” by the disappearance of the prominent journalists.

“Authorities must respect the rule of law and either present Abraham and Khan in court or immediately release them,” the media watchdog’s Asia programme coordinator, Beh Lih Yi, said.

Pakistan’s media community and independent journalists have also demanded accountability for those behind the killing of Arshad Sharif, a prominent Pakistani TV anchor who was shot to death in Kenya in October.

The 49-year-old journalist was living in exile after he fled the country to avoid arrest in the wake of multiple cases, including sedition charges related to comments he made on his show considered offensive to the military.

Police reportedly opened fire on his vehicle in Nairobi. Kenyan authorities said they regretted the killing, calling it “a case of mistaken identity”.

The two disappearances of journalists this month followed violent protests by Imran Khan’s supporters. They clashed for days with police across Pakistan, attacking public property and military installations, angered by the former prime minister’s arrest from a courtroom in Islamabad.

The violence only subsided after Imran Khan was released two days later after the Supreme Court declared his arrest illegal.

Since the deadly protests, the government has cracked down on Imran Khan’s supporters, arresting nearly 5,000 people and planning to hold trials before military courts, which are closed to the media and other observers.

Human rights groups have condemned the secretive nature of these proceedings and expressed concerns about a lack of fair trials.

On Friday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said at least 33 people suspected of attacking military installations have been handed over to the army for military trials.

On Friday, Imran Khan and his wife were put on a no-fly list. The government said it was also considering a ban on his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, dozens of whose members have quit in recent days in the wake of arrests and prosecutions following the protests.

Al Jazeera

 

[MenInG]

Geo News executive producer Zubair Anjum was allegedly picked up from his residence in Karachi’s Model Colony area, it emerged on Tuesday.

A report published by Geo.tv quoted residents on Anjum’s neighbourhood as saying that two police vans and double-cabin vehicles arrived at his home near the Model Colony intersection and “took him away”.

The report also quoted Anjum’s brother, Wajahat, as saying that officials entered their home “wielding firearms” and that family members were also manhandled.

“They asked for Zubair bhai and took him away at gunpoint. They also took along his mobile phone,” the report quoted him as saying. Wajahat said that officials also seized the digital video recorder (DVR) of the CCTV installed in Anjum’s neighbourhood.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

The Islamabad police on Monday booked journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan, as well as army-officer-turned-Youtuber Adil Raja and anchorperson Syed Haider Raza Mehdi for “abetting mutiny” and inciting people to attack military installations across the country on May 9 — the day violent protests erupted following PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest.

During the protest, military installations — including the Lahore corps commander’s residence — and state properties were damaged across Pakistan.

In a first information report (FIR) registered today, complainant Muhammad Aslam said he was passing by the capital’s G-11 locality on May 9 when he saw 20-25 people sharing “screenshots of tweets and video messages” of Raja, Wajahat, Mehdi and Sehbai.

“They were inciting people to attack military installations, spread terrorism and create chaos in the country,” he alleged.

Aslam stated in the complaint, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, that he checked the social media accounts of the four men after the incident.

“After looking at their social media, it was confirmed that all these people, under a planned conspiracy and mutual agreement, are aiding anti-state agencies, defaming the military and attempting to create mutiny in the army,” the complainant claimed.

He further alleged that the persons nominated in the FIR wanted to “weaken the army” and “increase terrorism” in the country.

The complaint added that the accused indulged in “foolish talks” against the army with the aim to “incite terrorist activities and spread fear in the government”.

“Moreover, their purpose is to attack government and military installations and create chaos through terrorism,” Aslam alluded and demanded that criminal action should be taken against the social media accounts of the accused persons.

The FIR, registered at the Ramna police station, invoked sections 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by Section 121), and 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty).

It also included sections 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) and 21A (cordons for Terrorist Investigation) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

 

[MenInG]

YouTuber Adil Farooq Raja has been arrested in the United Kingdom (UK) for running a defamatory campaign against Pakistan’s state institutions, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

The controversial YouTuber Raja was reportedly detained by Scotland Yard. He was summoned for questioning by the investigators for his alleged involvement in incitement to violence through YouTube and other platforms.

 

[MenInG]

Rights organisation Amnesty International and global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have raised concerns and called out Pakistani authorities over cases filed against journalists in connection with the events of May 9 under sedition charges in a bid to “silence critics”.

“At least seven journalists and commentators have been charged with offences against the state and anti-terror laws in the past four days,” Amnesty International said in a statement on Thursday, expressing concern over “the crackdown on voices critical of the state and military”.

“The use of these laws to silence commentators and journalists is a violation of the right to freedom of expression,” the statement added.


The seven individuals referred to in the Amnesty International’s statement include journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan, anchorpersons Sabir Shakir and Moeed Pirzada, army-officers-turned-Youtubers Adil Raja and Syed Haider Raza Mehdi and an individual identified as Syed Akbar Hussain.

The YouTubers among them are currently based outside Pakistan, while the journalists and anchorpersons previously worked for mainstream newspapers and television in Pakistan, but are currently either limited to YouTube or other social media platforms. No information is currently available about Hussain’s current country of residence.

Among the booked individuals, Shakir, Pirzada and Hussain were booked by Islamabad police on Wednesday (yesterday) on charges of sedition and terrorism for their alleged involvement in the violence and vadalism that was witnessed amid protests erupted in the wake of PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest.

Similarly, Sehbai, Khan, Raja and Mehdi were booked by Islamabad police on Monday for “abetting mutiny” and inciting people to attack military installations across the country on May 9.

These individuals are the latest to face action following the launch of a state crackdown on the PTI over their alleged involvement in vandalism and violence on May 9.

Citing media reports, Amnesty International said in its statement today that all of these seven individuals had been charged with offences against the state and anti-terror laws.

“The Anti-Terrorism Act has been criticised for the sweeping powers given to the police and armed forces, to abuse human rights with impunity, and removes safeguards against arbitrary arrest, detention and ill-treatment,” it said, stressing that “Pakistani authorities must end the use of offences against the state and anti-terror laws to silence critics”.

It added that where there was sufficient evidence of wrongdoing, suspects should be charged under ordinary criminal laws, with an “internationally recognisable offence not weaponised to restrict the freedom of expression, and produced before a civilian court”.

Earlier, RSF urged Pakistan to immediately dismiss the “ludicrous mutiny accusations in a complaint with no credibility” that an individual has brought against Khan and Sehbai.

“Although manifestly absurd, the charges [against the two] could carry the death penalty,” the RSF statement said.

“The two journalists have just practiced journalism,” the statement said, quoting RSF Asia Pacific head Daniel ******* as saying that to “arbitrarily associate” the names of journalists with those of “rebel ex-army officers” was meant to intimidate the journalists into silence.

“In view of the absurdity of the supposed incriminating evidence, we call on the Islamabad prosecutor’s office to dismiss this complaint, which should never have been received.

According to the statement, Khan had already told RSF last week that he was being “subjected to mounting harassment, some of it targeting his family and professional partners. And he has no illusions about the nature of the allegations brought against him this week.

“He said the police officer who registered the FIR told his lawyer that ‘this case is not under his ambit, which indicates that some other authorities are handling this matter, possibly extra-legally.’”

In this connection, the statement also mentioned the disappearance of anchorperson Imran Riaz, whose whereabouts remain unknown since his arrest at the Sialkot airport on May 11.

It also mentioned the event of Geo News executive producer Zubair Anjum allegedly being picked up in Karachi earlier this month.

Prior to this incident, activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir — who had been vocal in his criticism of the recent state crackdown on the PTI following May 9 riots and the legal process involving those who allegedly took part in the riots — was allegedly picked up by unidentified men in Karachi on June 1, and returned home around 24 hours later following protests and calls for his recovery.

Similarly, senior journalist Sami Abraham was also taken away by unidentified men in Islamabad on May 24 and returned home six days later. His brother Ali Raza had filed a complaint of abduction at Aabpara Police Station.

 

[Bewal Express]

Rights organisation Amnesty International and global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have raised concerns and called out Pakistani authorities over cases filed against journalists in connection with the events of May 9 under sedition charges in a bid to “silence critics”.

“At least seven journalists and commentators have been charged with offences against the state and anti-terror laws in the past four days,” Amnesty International said in a statement on Thursday, expressing concern over “the crackdown on voices critical of the state and military”.

“The use of these laws to silence commentators and journalists is a violation of the right to freedom of expression,” the statement added.


The seven individuals referred to in the Amnesty International’s statement include journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan, anchorpersons Sabir Shakir and Moeed Pirzada, army-officers-turned-Youtubers Adil Raja and Syed Haider Raza Mehdi and an individual identified as Syed Akbar Hussain.

The YouTubers among them are currently based outside Pakistan, while the journalists and anchorpersons previously worked for mainstream newspapers and television in Pakistan, but are currently either limited to YouTube or other social media platforms. No information is currently available about Hussain’s current country of residence.

Among the booked individuals, Shakir, Pirzada and Hussain were booked by Islamabad police on Wednesday (yesterday) on charges of sedition and terrorism for their alleged involvement in the violence and vadalism that was witnessed amid protests erupted in the wake of PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest.

Similarly, Sehbai, Khan, Raja and Mehdi were booked by Islamabad police on Monday for “abetting mutiny” and inciting people to attack military installations across the country on May 9.

These individuals are the latest to face action following the launch of a state crackdown on the PTI over their alleged involvement in vandalism and violence on May 9.

Citing media reports, Amnesty International said in its statement today that all of these seven individuals had been charged with offences against the state and anti-terror laws.

“The Anti-Terrorism Act has been criticised for the sweeping powers given to the police and armed forces, to abuse human rights with impunity, and removes safeguards against arbitrary arrest, detention and ill-treatment,” it said, stressing that “Pakistani authorities must end the use of offences against the state and anti-terror laws to silence critics”.

It added that where there was sufficient evidence of wrongdoing, suspects should be charged under ordinary criminal laws, with an “internationally recognisable offence not weaponised to restrict the freedom of expression, and produced before a civilian court”.

Earlier, RSF urged Pakistan to immediately dismiss the “ludicrous mutiny accusations in a complaint with no credibility” that an individual has brought against Khan and Sehbai.

“Although manifestly absurd, the charges [against the two] could carry the death penalty,” the RSF statement said.

“The two journalists have just practiced journalism,” the statement said, quoting RSF Asia Pacific head Daniel ******* as saying that to “arbitrarily associate” the names of journalists with those of “rebel ex-army officers” was meant to intimidate the journalists into silence.

“In view of the absurdity of the supposed incriminating evidence, we call on the Islamabad prosecutor’s office to dismiss this complaint, which should never have been received.

According to the statement, Khan had already told RSF last week that he was being “subjected to mounting harassment, some of it targeting his family and professional partners. And he has no illusions about the nature of the allegations brought against him this week.

“He said the police officer who registered the FIR told his lawyer that ‘this case is not under his ambit, which indicates that some other authorities are handling this matter, possibly extra-legally.’”

In this connection, the statement also mentioned the disappearance of anchorperson Imran Riaz, whose whereabouts remain unknown since his arrest at the Sialkot airport on May 11.

It also mentioned the event of Geo News executive producer Zubair Anjum allegedly being picked up in Karachi earlier this month.

Prior to this incident, activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir — who had been vocal in his criticism of the recent state crackdown on the PTI following May 9 riots and the legal process involving those who allegedly took part in the riots — was allegedly picked up by unidentified men in Karachi on June 1, and returned home around 24 hours later following protests and calls for his recovery.

Similarly, senior journalist Sami Abraham was also taken away by unidentified men in Islamabad on May 24 and returned home six days later. His brother Ali Raza had filed a complaint of abduction at Aabpara Police Station.

Imran Riaz still missing and probably dead at the hands of the fascists. This intimidation tactic hasn't worked as far as these brave journalists are concerned but the mafia that own the media have universally shown no backbone. PK is attempting to use the tactics that Sisi used in Egypt but unlike in Egypt, PKs abroad won't let these fascists get a free ride.

 

[daytrader]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1669566606651846656

 

[daytrader]

ECP issues code of conduct for media
Code guidelines outline ethics of coverage; prohibits expressing biased opinions that undermine Pakistan's sovereignty

ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday has released a 17-point code of conduct for the national media ahead of the upcoming general elections, outlining various guidelines they are required to adhere to during the campaign and polling.

The code released on Saturday applies to print, electronic, digital media, and social media influencers.

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.

Furthermore, any statements or accusations that pose a threat to national unity and the law-and-order situation will be strictly prohibited from being broadcast.

The code prohibits the inclusion of material that engages in attacks against candidates or political parties based on gender, religion, or community.

Any violation of the code will be treated seriously, and allegations made by one candidate against another will require confirmation from both sides before prosecution can commence.

In order to ensure compliance with the code, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA), Pakistan Information Department (PID), and the Cyber Digital Wing of the Ministry of Information will actively monitor the coverage given to political parties and candidates.

To support the electoral watchdog in implementing the code, PEMRA, PTA, PID, and the Cyber Digital Wing of the Ministry of Information will provide assistance.

ECP issues code of conduct for media | The Express Tribune

Code guidelines outline ethics of coverage; prohibits expressing biased opinions that undermine Pakistan's sovereignty

tribune.com.pk

 

[Bewal Express]

ECP issues code of conduct for media
Code guidelines outline ethics of coverage; prohibits expressing biased opinions that undermine Pakistan's sovereignty

ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday has released a 17-point code of conduct for the national media ahead of the upcoming general elections, outlining various guidelines they are required to adhere to during the campaign and polling.

The code released on Saturday applies to print, electronic, digital media, and social media influencers.

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.

Furthermore, any statements or accusations that pose a threat to national unity and the law-and-order situation will be strictly prohibited from being broadcast.

The code prohibits the inclusion of material that engages in attacks against candidates or political parties based on gender, religion, or community.

Any violation of the code will be treated seriously, and allegations made by one candidate against another will require confirmation from both sides before prosecution can commence.

In order to ensure compliance with the code, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA), Pakistan Information Department (PID), and the Cyber Digital Wing of the Ministry of Information will actively monitor the coverage given to political parties and candidates.

To support the electoral watchdog in implementing the code, PEMRA, PTA, PID, and the Cyber Digital Wing of the Ministry of Information will provide assistance.

ECP issues code of conduct for media | The Express Tribune

Code guidelines outline ethics of coverage; prohibits expressing biased opinions that undermine Pakistan's sovereignty

tribune.com.pk

So don't say elections are rigged because telling the truth is illegal.