Pak media authority bans coverage of proscribed outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned the media coverage of any activity of the proscribed outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

The authority issued a notification on Thursday, directing all TV channels and other media outlets to stop providing coverage to the proscribed outfit.

Referring to the declaration of TLP as a proscribed organisation by the Ministry of Interior on April 15, 2021, the statement said that the directive has been issued under the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct, 2015, which prohibits covering proscribed organisations.

“Ministry of Interior had declared the TLP as a proscribed organisation for being engaged in act of terrorism […]” on April 15, 2021, read the statement.

It further stated that all satellite TV channels, FM radio stations and distribution services networks (cable TV operators and Internet Protocol television) have been directed to stop disseminating information about the proscribed outfit.

Earlier in the day, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing announced that it has launched an operation against the proscribed outlet’s social media accounts.

A statement issued by the FIA said that 12 people were arrested during the crackdown in Lahore, Faisalabad, Nankana Sahab, Islamabad, and other cities of Punjab.

According to the statement, arrested individuals were involved in uploading hate-inciting material and doctored images on the internet through the proscribed organisation’s social media handles.

Those arrested were identified as Shahzeb Nazeer, Naeem, Ayub, Muhammad Hussain, Muhammad Hassan, Ghulam Shabbir, and Hamza Sheikh, among others.

It should be recalled that on Wednesday, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad had directed the authorities concerned to launch a crackdown on the social media accounts of the proscribed outfit.

Sources within the FIA said that they received the instructions, adding that they would initiate action against the social media accounts of the prescribed organisation starting Wednesday.