PEMRA action an attack on press freedom, says Sami Ibrahim

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 29 October 2021

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has suspended BOL News' transmission. Sami Ibrahim criticized this action as a direct assault on press freedom.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has suspended private TV channel BOL News transmission.

Sami Ibrahim, president and managing director, termed the PEMRA order as an attack on press freedom. In a video message on social media, he said that the transmission had been halted on the orders of PEMRA.

He also shared a TV screen picture saying the channel had been suspended on PEMRA's orders.

Sources claimed that PEMRA took this step due to media coverage of the ongoing long march by a banned organization.

Several media bodies, political, social, and journalistic figures condemned the closure of BOL News.

KEY POINTS:

• PEMRA has suspended BOL News transmission.
• Sami Ibrahim called it an attack on press freedom.
• The suspension is linked to coverage of a banned organization's long march.
• Various media and political figures have condemned the decision.
• The closure has led to widespread protests from journalism communities.