Pakistan Broadcasters Association 'condemns taking off air three of its member channels'

E-Paper | March 11, 2026

The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) on Monday said that a complaint has been lodged by three of its members — AabTak, 24News and CapitalTV — against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) for "taking their channels off air from cable networks without assigning a reason or giving them a hearing".

In a statement issued today, the PBA "condemned taking off air" the three channels. Pemra has yet to comment on the development.

The PBA demanded Pemra to "restore these channels immediately and follow its laid down rules in case there was any complaint against these channels or they had violated the code of conduct".

"By not giving them the right of hearing and unilaterally taking them off-air was against all norms of justice and threatened freedom of expression," added the statement.

This development comes a day after the media regulatory body issued notices to 21 TV channels for the "unedited live telecast" of PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz's explosive press conference in Lahore on Saturday.

The regulatory authority had said that the unedited live telecast of Maryam's speech "against [the] judiciary and state institutions" was in violation of Pemra's laws, code of conduct and the Supreme Court's orders.

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Syed A. Mateen

Jul 09, 2019 12:41am

Every one in the country knows every thing then why Pemra is taking TV channels of air from cable TV. If news will not come through cable TV network people will install dish antennas through which viewers will be able to view more TV channels comparing to cable TV network.

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ABC

Jul 09, 2019 12:42am

Good step by PEMRA

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Malik Saab

Jul 09, 2019 12:43am

It seems that our leaders are learning from African and Middle eastern dictators rather than from the progressive western and European countries. Let us see how long this government will sustain with such measures.

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Ijaz

Jul 09, 2019 12:45am

Sorry state of affairs, when pemra itself disregards the law and constitution. Pakistan is fast becoming a banana Republic

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AGAKHAN

Jul 09, 2019 12:49am

PEMRA is apparently 'controlled' by the establishment. PBA consequently, does NOT have much say or influence to the shape of the society we are electing to live - by such a (authoritarian) rule.

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udta panchee

Jul 09, 2019 12:51am

There is no freedom of speech in Pakistan and it is already hampering human development.

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Raja Anwar

Jul 09, 2019 12:59am

This is not a democracy. Pemra is acting on the instructions of PTI government.

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Jjacky

Jul 09, 2019 01:13am

Pakistan is best place for freedom of speech and expression.

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Rohail

Jul 09, 2019 01:18am

Spreading hatred within nation is not allowed and doesn’t fall under freedom of speech. It’s just a starting point ...

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Addendum

Jul 09, 2019 01:33am

The channels knowingly broke the law. PBA should advise their members to abide by the law and also uphold usual expectations of societal norms.

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R. S. Menon

Jul 09, 2019 01:44am

Scroll down a bit and you will find a news item on the alleged pinch experienced by the media in J&K. Will the PTI Government survive another year. I don't think so. I never thought that IK would be this much revengeful. R.S. Menon, Gurgaon

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Arshad

Jul 09, 2019 02:16am

If the channels operate against Pakistan, then it’s a good step.

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Addendum

Jul 09, 2019 02:23am

I bet these channels, despite PEMRA's orders not to, must have rebroadcast the press conference.

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AHAQ

Jul 09, 2019 02:24am

Good work by Pemra. Spreading lies without giving any clarification regarding facts and without first giving disclaimer about contents must be considered a violation of code of conduct.

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Anwar Syed. St.Louis. MO. USA

Jul 09, 2019 02:53am

I think it was a right decision to make by the authorities. Some TV channels wanted to run the country with fake and or misleading information for the public at large.

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Hafeez

Jul 09, 2019 03:10am

Media is going through worst kind of censorship, not much room for any difference of opinion. This is not democracy but fascism. Democracy means an elected government through free and fair elections where all institutions work within their defined boundaries as per constitution, Independent Judiciary, Free media, an active civil society and intelligentsia.

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lion

Jul 09, 2019 03:13am

Bertrand Russell - Heretical views arise when the truth is uncertain & it is only when truth is uncertain that censorship is invoked go figure. According to Plato there is only a certain level of censorship a society can absorb; beyond that disenfranchisement will start.

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RAja Raman

Jul 09, 2019 03:14am

Good. State within state is fully visible.

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wachucha

Jul 09, 2019 03:22am

All channels must follow the established journalistic ethics. Freedom of expression doesn't allow attacks on the judiciary and unfounded allegations against the state.

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Sohail

Jul 09, 2019 03:23am

Channels who violated state rules should be taken off air permanently... nothing comes before state integrity

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UncleFunky

Jul 09, 2019 04:15am

This is the Naya Pakistan, get used to it.

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Imran Khan

Jul 09, 2019 05:09am

Keep them off for ever , if they are aganist the Country we dont need them

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Khurram

Jul 09, 2019 05:23am

Pemra must impose it's authoriity on all channels to ensure abidannce of the state policies. No channel, no group , no force must be allowed to follow ulterior motives and black mail tactics.

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Waqas

Jul 09, 2019 06:28am

State should initiate audit of the channel's finances of the last 5 years, before hearing any of their pleas

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Dr. Ali Canada

Jul 09, 2019 06:32am

This country is tuning into Egypt

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fairplay

Jul 09, 2019 06:58am

Break the rules, pay the penalty.

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Murtaza

Jul 09, 2019 07:23am

Freedom of speech is also controlled everywhere in the world..nothing new and absolute required by the State

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M. Emad

Jul 09, 2019 08:02am

Very Sad.

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Ujla sitara

Jul 09, 2019 08:12am

Censorship should be avoided in the era of internet, it does not help anyways.

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Colaking

Jul 09, 2019 08:47am

Now what ????

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Dennuy

Jul 09, 2019 09:25am

When you are in self destruction mode, you don't need any external enemy. Like a coin, media's job is to present both side picture/narrative/story. But, the enemy within tries to push a single narrative/picture and suppress others. This is very dangerous to democracy. Time for media & people to wake-up.

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Tamir

Jul 09, 2019 10:30am

Pakistani media was always controlled but now it has become open and rampant as selected government fears its secrets are being openly discussed.

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TechTalk

Jul 09, 2019 10:35am

PEMRA can't possibly do it. It is those who when you speak about them, you disappear. I won't even take the name but everyone knows

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M Rafique

Jul 09, 2019 10:45am

Carry on PEMRA freedom of expression does not mean out of proportion discussions and cooked stories

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Amir

Jul 09, 2019 10:58am

All other TV stations should also stop broadcasting live pressers of government and other officials. Stop inviting them on talk shows Or stop broadcasting till the other channels go on air

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Vikas

Jul 09, 2019 11:01am

Pakistan is under marshal law. The entire world knows it. So do Pakistanis but as usual they will never or are too afraid to admit it. This so called selected government led by a selected person is obviously a mask. Like it or not, at least this is the idea that the rest of the world has got.

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Gordon D. Walker

Jul 09, 2019 11:10am

Mr. Gafoora said something different. Please let the media free

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Lubnakhan

Jul 09, 2019 12:19pm

I donot know about others but this channel 24 is basically a propaganda channel and all they do is to insult people

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Jul 09, 2019 12:39pm

Good step. This is necessary to clean up dirt of last 70 years.

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