PTV censors Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's presser

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 15 May 2018

PTV censored Prime Minister Abbasi's press conference after a National Security Council meeting. This action has raised questions about media independence in Pakistan.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - In a surprising move, the state-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) on Monday censored Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s press conference while several private channels completely blacked it out.

Abbasi was speaking following the National Security Council meeting that discussed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s remarks about the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

Daily Times reported on Tuesday that PTV aired the presser after “necessary omissions."

Private television channels now regularly mute anti-judiciary remarks by Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz to comply with a court order.

Photo: Twitter @@PMAbbasiPk

KEY POINTS:

• PTV censored Abbasi's press conference on Monday.
• Private channels also blacked out the event.
• The meeting discussed Nawaz Sharif's comments on the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
• Censorship is in response to court orders regarding anti-judiciary remarks.
• Concerns over media freedom are growing in Pakistan.