PEMRA issues a warning; ‘TV channels must avoid airing content against armed forces and judiciary’

What happened: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has warned all the private electronic media against airing content against state institutions. PEMRA issued the latest directives on their Twitter handle,  “It has been observed that a few satellite TV channels are airing content which tantamounts to casting aspersions against state institutions, i.e. armed forces and judiciary.”  The latest directives come when Khan allegedly talked about the institutions in his Abottabbad speech, and Shehbaz Sharif said that  don’t drag the army into politics. Details: At the same time, PEMRA has ordered strict legal action against channels not adhering to the guidelines. The statement quoted by Express Tribune added,  “Airing such content violated PEMRA rules, provisions of the PEMRA Code of Conduct 2015 and the principle laid down by the superior courts.”  On the other hand, PEMRA’s statement highlighted that freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right but  “under reasonable restrictions.”