Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a stay order suspending the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)’s notification that required prior approval from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) for defense analysts to appear on television programs.
Justice Babar Sattar presided over the hearing, during which PEMRA’s April 4, 2019, notification was challenged. The court deemed the directive questionable and halted its implementation, providing temporary relief to petitioners opposing the notification.
The suspended notification had mandated that defense analysts must seek prior approval from the ISPR before participating in TV programs, a move critics argued was an infringement on freedom of speech and media independence.
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The court’s decision has sparked discussion in media and legal circles, with many viewing it as a significant step toward safeguarding journalistic autonomy and freedom of expression. Further hearings are expected to address the legality and implications of the PEMRA directive.
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