A Senate committee raised concerns about the government’s censorship policy, especially regarding opposition speeches on state-run television. During the meeting, Information Secretary Ambreen Jan, who is also the PTV managing director, suggested the perceived censorship might be a “technical glitch.” Barrister Ali Zafar, chairing the session, emphasized the importance of media transparency and freedom in Pakistan. He expressed dissatisfaction with the blackout of opposition speeches and urged that such technical issues be avoided in the future.
Zafar, also PTI’s parliamentary leader in the Senate, invited media representatives to the next meeting to discuss the censorship of political content, particularly concerning Imran Khan’s statements. He questioned whether Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) was being undermined and called for clear answers on who was responsible for the restrictions on political content. Zafar stressed the importance of transparency to maintain media freedom and democracy in Pakistan.
Senator Aon Abbas Buppi questioned whether Pemra had issued any formal orders regarding the ban on broadcasting Imran Khan’s statements or images. He accused the government of spreading fake news, particularly regarding inflation statistics, and called for a meeting with media representatives and Pemra officials to address the issue.
The committee also received a briefing on Pemra’s functions and operations, with updates on its licensing activities. The meeting concluded with a request for a report on pension payments to Radio Pakistan and PTV pensioners within ten days.
