The Pulse | Politics | South Asia

Censorship in Pakistan Goes From ‘Pleasant’ to ‘Unpleasant’

Authorities have directed satellite TV channels to refrain from broadcasting or providing live coverage of “unpleasant incidents,” meaning shootings, blasts and terrorist attacks.

The famous Pakistani satirist and playwright, Anwar Maqsood, once said at the Karachi Literature Festival: “The biggest lie in Pakistan is PTV’s weather report. Outside it is scorching hot, but the news announces: ‘The weather across the country is pleasant.'”

The man, a master of puns and wordplay, used the weather analogy to highlight the censorship imposed on the state broadcaster to keep people away from the harsh realities of the country. He used “scorching hot” as a metaphor for unemployment, inflation, poverty and social unrest.

Now, things have gone from “pleasant” to “unpleasant.”

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on October 13 directed satellite television channels to refrain from broadcasting or providing live coverage of “unpleasant incidents,” meaning explosions, blasts, firing and terrorist attacks.

“All satellite TV channel licensees are once again hereby directed to refrain from broadcast, re-broadcast and live coverage of any unfortunate/unpleasant incident such as explosion, blast, firing, terrorist attack etc,” the notification said, adding, “Satellite TV channels must broadcast only such verified information, warranted by the concerned department/law enforcement agency.”

The notification also directed channels to “effectively use time delay mechanism” and ensure the constitution of an independent editorial board in accordance with PEMRA laws, a Supreme Court judgment in suo motu case No. 28 of 2018, and an Islamabad High Court order issued on September 5, 2022.

Before the PEMRA notification,........

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