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Pemra bans airing of terrorists' interviews

Naveed Siddiqui Published April 27, 2017
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The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Thursday placed a ban on the broadcast of interviews of terrorists, a notification shared on the regulatory authority's Twitter page stated.

Geo News was slated to air an interview with former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan on Thursday night at 11pm.

According to the notification, a terrorist cannot be allowed to use any channel's platform to give an interview as it would undermine the efforts of Pakistan Army soldiers who have fought against militant elements and laid down their lives for the country.

It further said that airing an interview 'of a known militant' would be 'heart-wrenching and deeply disturbing' for the colleagues, family, and friends who have lost their loved ones in acts of terrorism in the country.

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Hassan
Apr 27, 2017 04:21pm
First time ever, Pemra did some thing right
Recommend 0
Syed
Apr 27, 2017 04:23pm
Fantastic news. Great step Pemra! No news of terror should be broadcast as this is exactly the kind of publicity they thrive on. Its time to isolate the terrorists and stop gloryfying them.
Recommend 0
PRANJALI
Apr 27, 2017 04:30pm
Dont stop only their broadcasting ,stop them from spreading terror as well .
Recommend 0
Zakir hussain
Apr 27, 2017 04:40pm
Freedom of expression..huh
Recommend 0
Khan-haqiqi
Apr 27, 2017 04:41pm
Terrorist is in army custody, who allowed access to private TV channel?
Recommend 0
Hassan
Apr 27, 2017 04:43pm
For once PEMRA did something meaningful. Good job.
Recommend 0
M.Saeed
Apr 27, 2017 04:45pm
Good decision. These terrorist leaders have horrible record of atrocities that might turn them in to gallows tomorrow.
Recommend 0
Ejaz
Apr 27, 2017 04:46pm
Its strange, there are constant statements around how India is behind all. So now why not internationalise his claims with proof? Same for Yadav..what is the problem with sending proof worldwide? It will only better Pakistans standing..or is there something missing!
Recommend 0
The end is near
Apr 27, 2017 04:48pm
Too little too late.
Recommend 0
Harmony-1©
Apr 27, 2017 04:50pm
When a terrorist is admitting his crime and showing remorse, it is a lesson for all; so should be broadcast. Why was Saulat Mirza interview aired so many times for the same reason?
Recommend 0
Arshad
Apr 27, 2017 04:57pm
Ahgust to see this interview. Question is that who has allowed the access of media to this former spokesman of TTP. Can we know whose custody is this man in ? Why was Saleem Safi allowed to interview him, simply to refresh the pains and agnoies of those whose sons, fathers and husbands were slaughtered in innumerable explosions. The responsible to permit this incident to be taken to task.
Recommend 0
Shahzad Ikhlaq
Apr 27, 2017 05:00pm
For the first time ever pemra makes a right decision!
Recommend 0
immo
Apr 27, 2017 05:03pm
PEMRA should also ban the vulgarity and obscenity aired by private channels
Recommend 0
Sheraz Ali
Apr 27, 2017 05:04pm
@Hassan It's not right.. when we can listen silly politician talk show daily then we should listen why these terrorist do these thing and what they have got in their minds... completely wrong decision by PEMRA
Recommend 0
kt
Apr 27, 2017 05:32pm
@Ejaz Gee, I don't know, why don't you tell us what's missing before it's too late?
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Baluc h
Apr 27, 2017 05:39pm
Did he revealed the involvement of some people in power? Why pemra was so quick to ban his interview?
Recommend 0
truth finder
Apr 27, 2017 05:43pm
because of involvement of politicians...!!
Recommend 0
Mudassir Hussain Azeemabadi
Apr 27, 2017 06:00pm
Good job.... people of Pakistan.... who have raised their voices through Social Media etc. and Thank you PEMRA.
Recommend 0
Khan USA
Apr 27, 2017 06:15pm
How can a under custody criminal get to the interview ? This is a government's fault . Previously Saulat Mirza , a prisoner on death row was interviewed and aired . This is all the government's plan !
Recommend 0
Mustaffa
Apr 27, 2017 06:30pm
@Ejaz , yes, substance and truth is missing!
Recommend 0
pashtoon
Apr 27, 2017 06:44pm
The content of speeches and interviews differs. He is speaking as a surrender. Please allow his interview. He is going to expose the real culprits. Please PEMRA
Recommend 0
Zulu
Apr 27, 2017 07:13pm
@PRANJALI out of context statement
Recommend 0
Jaleel U Rahman
Apr 27, 2017 08:04pm
Too little too late.
Recommend 0
Raja farhat Abbas
Apr 27, 2017 08:16pm
@PRANJALI ...Yes India must stop spreading and funding terror inside Pakistan!!.
Recommend 0
Faisal
Apr 27, 2017 08:28pm
Good job Pemra.
Recommend 0
Alba
Apr 27, 2017 08:31pm
The Pakistan government is it's own worst enemy.
Recommend 0
Malik USA
Apr 27, 2017 08:41pm
@Khan-haqiqi Your question is million questions. The hard core terrorist is under army's custody and one of the TV channel took his interview and the add was coming that his interview will be air at this time. This is the problem of Pakistan. Some anchor/TV channel/some personalies /some agencies think that they are above the law. Nobody can dare to touch them
Recommend 0
Down to earth
Apr 27, 2017 09:10pm
Surprised there no such law. anyone can air such programs just for the sake of rating...
Recommend 0
Rafiullah
Apr 27, 2017 09:32pm
This man took responsibilty of aps attack and we are dealing him like hero. Anything can happen here .
Recommend 0
fahd
Apr 28, 2017 01:11am
Pemra did the right thing
Recommend 0
Urooj Zaidi
Apr 28, 2017 01:31am
Right move. This stigma should be send to the prison instead. Pakistan Zindabad.
Recommend 0
TQ
Apr 28, 2017 02:05am
It should be aired because other wouldbe terrorists understand better from their own colleagues. It seems PEMRA lacks Critical Decision making. Institutions in Pakistan should teach "Critical Thinking" to students that may help them in developing long term strategies.
Recommend 0
TQ
Apr 28, 2017 02:20am
It is unfortunate that decision making in Pakistan is emotional. We should try to recall how did we as youngsters learned from elders. This guy is advising the youngsters who are on the wrong path, the mistakes he made so that they may avoid it.
Recommend 0
Musa
Apr 28, 2017 02:45am
And I think when the same terrorist was involved in all the incidents, which he openly accepted with a pride, they were broadcasted live on the same channels. Why not now when the same entity is set free? By the way, this is not happening for the first time where government or the "others" are showing such respect for these entities.
Recommend 0
DADA
Apr 28, 2017 02:50am
@Sheraz Ali: You are on wrong tracks my friend. Just imaging in the name of Freedom of Speech someone uses four letter words again and again. You cannot trust a terrorist who has killed thousands of people. Now this terrorist is in custody and he want to talk or has been forced to talk. You decide if he will tell the truth or trying to get some favors.
Recommend 0
Akil Akhtar
Apr 28, 2017 05:20am
Well Done.We have been frustrated by this where the private TV channels have shown complete lack of good taste at the least by giving these terrorists air time and treating them as if they were innocent.
Recommend 0
C P Madhusudan
Apr 28, 2017 07:14am
@Ejaz that is how they fool the people of Pakistan
Recommend 0
Zarbakht
Apr 28, 2017 07:21am
He is a terrorist, who has surrendered. In that interview he is going to tell the reasons, why he left TTP. Their brutalities etc will be revealed. So it's a different case, pemra should allow it
Recommend 0
javed
Apr 28, 2017 07:33am
PEMRA is doing the right thing. For all you know it may be a ploy by these outfits to send their agents with a white flag and use mass media to get their message out.
Recommend 0

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