Overview
- PEMRA issued the directive on Oct. 13, 2026, ordering satellite and regional news channels to stop broadcasting live footage of protests, explosions, firing and terrorist attacks.
- Broadcasters must implement time-delay systems, air only information verified by relevant authorities and set up independent editorial boards under the regulator’s instructions.
- The order cites prior legal rulings and injunctions, including a Feb. 20, 2023 injunction, a 2018 Supreme Court suo motu judgment and a Sept. 5, 2022 Islamabad High Court order, and warns of legal action under Sections 29-A, 30 and 33 of the PEMRA Ordinance.
- Officials said the measures follow the federal imposition of emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after security reports showed a sharp rise in militant incidents, with authorities pointing to a reported 195% increase in attacks between March 2024 and Sept. 23, 2026.
- The rules will reduce live, independent reporting during unfolding unrest, increase reliance on official verification and raise the risk of fines or sanctions for channels that fail to follow PEMRA’s technical and editorial requirements.