The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has barred satellite television channels from providing live coverage of blasts, firing and terrorist attacks. The regulator issued the directive on Wednesday and warned broadcasters of legal action for violations. It also ordered channels to air only verified information from relevant authorities.
In a notification dated October 13, PEMRA reiterated its prohibition order issued on February 20, 2023. The directive applies to news, current affairs and regional-language channels. It prohibits broadcasting, rebroadcasting or providing live coverage of explosions, firing and terrorist incidents.
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The regulator instructed broadcasters to verify information through the relevant government departments or law enforcement agencies. Additionally, it directed channels to use time-delay mechanisms effectively. PEMRA also called for independent editorial boards in line with applicable laws and court orders.
The notification referred to PEMRA laws, a Supreme Court judgment in a 2018 suo motu case and an Islamabad High Court order dated September 5, 2022. Furthermore, the regulator warned that violations could trigger legal action under Sections 29A, 30 and 33 of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002, as amended.
The directive came three days after the federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on October 11. The government cited rising terrorist incidents and violent activities in the province. The presidential proclamation also raised concerns about attacks on infrastructure, government installations and law enforcement agencies.
Security reports presented to the federal cabinet showed a 195 per cent increase in terrorist incidents in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa between March 1, 2024, and September 23, 2026. The reports also stated that police and security personnel faced 73 per cent of the province’s recorded attacks during 2026.
Meanwhile, Balochistan has also experienced increased violence. A Centre for Research and Security Studies report recorded a rise in violence-linked fatalities from 265 to 829 during the third quarter of 2026. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa recorded 186 violent incidents in the same period, accounting for 48 per cent of attacks nationwide.