Pemra’s curbs on ex-servicemen’s appearance in TV shows to be challenged in IHC

E-Paper | July 23, 2026

Pemra’s curbs on ex-servicemen’s appearance in TV shows to be challenged in IHC

Malik Asad Published April 7, 2019

Pemra has instructed all TV channels to seek prior clearance from the Inter-Services Public Relations before inviting retired military officers on news and current affairs programmes “to solicit their views on matters of national security”. ─ Dawn/File

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ISLAMABAD: The Ex-Servicemen Legal Forum, an association of retired army officers-turned-lawyers, has decided to challenge a notification of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) to TV channels, imposing some restrictions on the appearance of retired military officers in TV programmes as defence analysts.

The convener of the Forum, retired Lt Col Inamur Rahim Khawaja, told Dawn on Saturday that the Forum in its meeting held earlier in the day had decided to challenge the Pemra notification in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

In the notification issued on Thursday, Pemra instructed all TV channels to seek prior clearance from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) before inviting retired military officers on news and current affairs programmes “to solicit their views on matters of national security”.

The Pemra’s notification stated: “It has seriously been observed by the concerned quarters that retired military officers are frequently being invited in different news and current affairs programmes / talk shows as defence analysts to solicit their views / opinions on matters of national security and related affairs. Such invitees are usually not fully conversant with latest defence and security related developments due to their service background and post retirement time. Moreover, the discussion mostly switches from security related matters to politics which inadvertently embroils military officers into political debate which is felt undesirable.”

The electronic media watchdog suggested that the “retired armed forces officers may only be invited for the discussion on military related matters with the prior clearance of the ISPR”.

Pemra further directed that retired military officers invited for discussion other than security related issues should not be called defence analyst, but be titled as only analyst.

Mr Khawaja claimed that the Pemra direction was against various constitutional provisions that ensured fundamental rights, freedom of expression and equality among citizens.

He said the Forum had in principle decided to challenge the Pemra notification and a petition in this regard would be filed in the IHC next week.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2019

Pakistan

Malik Asad is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with two decades of experience covering legal affairs, judicial developments, and the civil bureaucracy. He can be found on X at @asadrp.

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Lost cause

Apr 07, 2019 09:44am

Total control.

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Love Your Country

Apr 07, 2019 10:02am

Why did PERMA not stand up?

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Amir

Apr 07, 2019 10:06am

Another way by the establishment to silence critics

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Syed Jawaid Ahmad

Apr 07, 2019 10:13am

I fully support PEMRA on this issue. As a retired officer of the army I feel that retired officers may at times state something, right or wrong, that may not be good for the state. While freedom of expression is commendable, there has to be certain limits in which that must function. For a country like Pakistan, surrounded by enemies, some restrictions on the appearance of those officials, civil or military, who have or had access to classified information is a necessity to ensure security of the motherland.

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Aamir Latif

Apr 07, 2019 10:24am

Something good, should have done mamy years back. These so called analyst create nothing but confusion every day. Pemra point is right...

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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali

Apr 07, 2019 10:24am

This ( clearance by DOD ) will not happen. These self-made retired officers/analysts present the Department of Defense point of view. Frankly, 90% of them have either no clue about current affairs or international affairs. Few of them have questionable past and owning assets beyond ( much more than beyond ) their declared income. However, if approved this will be the Naya Pakistan for sure.

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Rahat Aziz

Apr 07, 2019 10:48am

good decision by PEMRA. so called defence analysts discussing political issues on TV talk shows.....strange.

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SHAHID SATTAR

Apr 07, 2019 10:53am

Whose clearance must the owners of media channels and newspapers and other civilians obtain before appearing on any tv talk shows?

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Uza Syed

Apr 07, 2019 10:54am

Under our constituency, those who serve in our military do not lose their rights as citizens of Pakistan. The constitution of Pakistan guarantees basic human rights to all its citizens and freedom of speech is one such basic rights. PEMRA or anyone else can not take away this or any constitutionally guaranteed rights from any of us including our fellow citizens who opted to serve in uniform to defend the country and its citizens. PEMRA must withdraw this illegal gag order henceforth.

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Meesaq Zaidi

Apr 07, 2019 10:55am

This condition applied to serving officers only 30-40 years ago. They had to obtain NOC from ISPR even for participation even in literary programs. The retired officers must continue participation in general talk shows. They should not be invited as Defence Analysts. ISPR should be consulted if the talk show is on defence subjects. ISPR nominees only should be invited to participate on defence subjects. That’s a security issue.

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Ash Man

Apr 07, 2019 10:57am

Can’t control ex service men the government is trying to control the tv channels.

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jiwan

Apr 07, 2019 12:36pm

The PEMRA is on right course especially when ISPR does all important briefings,

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IAS

Apr 07, 2019 02:28pm

Good move