JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 21, 2021
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) following complaints that journalists were not allowed to work freely and pursue their careers, Express Tribune reported.
“[The PEMRA chairman] is directed to submit his written response disclosing action taken against the media houses/television channels which resort to such tactics,” the order read.
"PEMRA should also disclose its role in ensuring that press freedom is ensured and that all political parties, both in the government and in opposition, receive the same broadcast time in compliance with the reported judgments in the cases of Fatehyab Ali Khan and Muhammad Aslam Saleemi."
The court observed that allegations had also been made that media houses/TV channels, which agreed to project a particular political narrative and suppress a contrary one, benefitted financially by misusing public exchequer funds as they were given advertisements while others were deprived.
"Therefore, a notice be also issued to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting through its secretary, who is directed to provide details of the amounts paid/disbursed on account of advertisements in the last financial year till date, and the criteria, if any, used in determining the beneficiaries. Other benefits that may have been given, including foreign trips, also be disclosed.”
March 20, 2025: The FIA has arrested journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick over his YouTube content, sparking concerns over press freedom. His family and media organizations demand transparency and his immediate release.
March 20, 2025: A Pakistani delegation, including journalists and filmmakers, secretly visited Israel, sparking controversy. The visit, facilitated by Israeli NGO Sharaka, aimed to promote cultural diplomacy. Read more on this developing story.
March 20, 2025: Amnesty International calls for an investigation into the enforced disappearance of journalist Ahmad Noorani’s brothers, condemning it as an attack on press freedom and human rights.
March 19, 2025: Islamabad Police deny raiding journalist Ahmad Noorani’s residence as his family files a complaint about the alleged abduction of his brothers. Noorani, residing in the US, claims his family was targeted due to his reporting.
March 19, 2025: The reported abduction of investigative journalist Ahmed Noorani's brothers marks a disturbing escalation in Pakistan's press freedom crisis, following his exposé on military leadership privileges.
March 16, 2025: Senior analyst Imtiaz Gul joins the growing list of journalists and commentators banned from Pakistani television, raising fresh concerns about declining press freedom in the country.
March 14, 2025: Explore how exiled Pakistani journalists are leveraging digital platforms to deliver independent analysis and fill critical information gaps that state-controlled media leaves behind, transforming the country's media landscape from abroad.
March 07, 2025: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has questioned the delay in the Arshad Sharif murder investigation, as the government seeks additional time to finalize a mutual legal assistance agreement with Kenya.
March 19, 2025 Apply for the NYU Stern Climate Economics Journalism Fellowship to deepen your understanding of climate economics and its impact on global finance. Applications close on April 20, 2025.
March 16, 2025 The Trump administration has ordered furloughs at U.S.-funded broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, raising concerns about press freedom and government control over media funding.
March 15, 2025 Explore the dynamic relationship between athletes and sports journalists, examining the challenges, ethical dilemmas, and mutual benefits that shape the sports media landscape.
March 14, 2025 The National Press Foundation is offering a fully funded journalism training workshop in Singapore from June 22 to 25. The workshop will cover sustainable global trade, investment, politics, and more. Apply by April 6.
March 14, 2025 The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urges Maharashtra authorities to ensure their AI-driven media monitoring plan does not undermine press freedom. The initiative, which classifies news as positive or negative, raises concerns over government overreach and self-censorship.