All Television channels in Pakistan have been barred by (PEMRA) The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority from airing news about the brutal gang-rape that happened last month in the Punjab province. After the order was passed by a trial court on the request of the police.
Dawn News Quotes statement issued by the PEMRA’s General Manager (Operations-Broadcast Media) Muhammad Tahir on Friday “All satellite TV channels (news and current affairs) are therefore directed to comply with the orders of the honorable Anti-Terrorism Court, Lahore, regarding Sialkot motorway incident in letter and spirit and refrain from airing any content concerning the instant case, in future,”
An application had been filed by Zulfiqar Cheema Investigating Officer (IO) before the ATC seeking a ban on media coverage of the incident.
He said that the incident was a brutal offense and the medial was indulged in reckless coverage of the instant case.
the media coverage of the incident had been creating obstacles in the arrest of the prime suspect. Cheema further told the court.
The media coverage of the incident had been creating hindrance in the arrest of the prime suspect, Cheema further told the court.
Presiding Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta in his decision admitted the contention of the Investigating Officer and observed that because of the media coverage the victim and the family will also be disgraced. News Pakistan
The victim of the incident the 30-year old Pakistani Woman agreed to record her statement on camera after 21 days of the gang-rape incident that happened on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway.
She also agreed to identify one of the suspects, Shafqat Ali who was arrested in the DepalpurOkara area in Punjab.
However, the police have failed in arresting the main suspect Abid Ali. The police have stated that his arrest is a matter of a day.
with IANSinputs
