Overview
- The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority issued a notification dated October 13 that reiterated its February 20, 2023 ban and told satellite news, current‑affairs and regional‑language channels not to broadcast, rebroadcast or live‑stream explosions, firing or terrorist incidents.
- The order requires channels to air only information verified by responsible departments or law enforcement, to implement effective time‑delay technology and to form independent editorial boards in line with PEMRA rules and court guidance.
- PEMRA warned that violations could trigger prosecutions under Sections 29A, 30 and 33 of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002, giving the regulator a clear legal enforcement route against noncompliant broadcasters.
- The notification followed the federal imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber‑Pakhtunkhwa on October 11 and cites security reports showing a 195% rise in K‑P incidents between March 1, 2024 and September 23, 2026 and a CRSS finding that Balochistan Q3 2026 fatalities rose from 265 to 829.
- Broadcasters must install delay systems and strengthen editorial review to avoid legal exposure, a shift that will slow live reporting of violent events and concentrate public information around verified official channels.