ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued a prohibition order, imposing ban on the broadcasting of speeches by PTI leader and Senator Azam Swati.
The move came within hours after 75 year old Senator Azam Swati was arrested by FIA from his Chak Shahzad residence for his controversial tweets about state institutions and their heads.
Also read: Azam Swati arrested again by FIA
According to PEMRA notification, no TV channel is allowed to run any ticker, news, or statement issued by Azam Swati. There will also be a ban on the re-run of Swati’s speech and his invitation as a guest in any TV programme.
The prohibition order states : “prohibits the broadcast and re-broadcast of speech(es)/press conferences/media of Swati (as a guest in any talk show, any statement or tickers) on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect”.
The order by the regulatory authority maintained that the November 26 “speech was aired on various satellite TV channels, wherein he has made aspersions against the state institutions by levelling baseless allegations. Referred speech, apparently, went on air without any editorial control and effective utilisation of [a] delay mechanism. Whereas, airing of such content is a willful violation of PEMRA’s directives issued on 28-10-2022, 09-05-2022, 16-05-2022, 09-08-2022, 29-08-2022, 31-08-2022, 02-09-2022& 05-09-2022 as well as PEMRA laws which explicitly refrain all the licensees from telecasting any content in any manner against state institutions.”
