The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York-based independent nonprofit promoting press freedom globally, has called on Pakistani authorities to withdraw sweeping restrictions that bar television channels from broadcasting live coverage of terrorist attacks and other vaguely defined 'unpleasant' incidents. The appeal, issued on 13 October 2026, comes in direct response to a directive by Pakistan's Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) that critics say effectively hands the state control over breaking news.

What the PEMRA Directive Orders

According to the directive, all satellite television channels in Pakistan have been instructed to refrain from broadcasting, rebroadcasting, or airing live coverage of any 'unfortunate' or 'unpleasant' incident — a category that explicitly includes explosions, blasts, shootings, and terrorist attacks. Broadcasters may only air information that has been verified by the relevant government departments or law enforcement agencies.

The order additionally requires channels to use time delays and maintain independent editorial boards. PEMRA has warned of legal action against any broadcaster that fails to comply, raising the stakes significantly for newsrooms already operating under pressure.

CPJ's Warning Against State-Controlled Narratives

'Journalists and media workers must be able to report breaking news and current affairs independently, free from fear of legal retaliation, and in the public interest,' the CPJ stated in a formal release.

Waliullah Rahmani, CPJ's Afghanistan and Pakistan representative, sharpened the criticism: 'Preventing journalists from independent reporting of major security incidents and requiring them to rely on information authorised by state and security agencies risks turning legitimate safety safeguards into a system of official information control and censorship.' He called on Pakistani authorities to rescind the restrictions and allow newsrooms to make responsible editorial decisions without fear of regulatory retaliation.

A Pattern of Tightening Media Controls

The current directive is not an isolated development. According to the CPJ, it reiterates restrictions on television channels that were first issued in February 2023 by PEMRA, which at the time accused TV channels of broadcasting unverified and speculative information during militant attacks. This marks at least the second formal reinforcement of those curbs.

In August 2026, Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued separate guidelines requiring foreign journalists and their associates — including those working with international media — to register with the ministry and obtain a certificate before undertaking reporting assignments outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. Taken together, the measures indicate a sustained and escalating effort to regulate news flows, particularly around security events.

Political Context Behind the Clampdown

The CPJ noted that the latest directive follows a period of heightened political and security instability in Pakistan, including the imposition of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The combination of provincial emergency powers and centralised media controls has deepened concerns among press freedom advocates about the operating environment for journalists in the country.

Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting did not respond to a CPJ request for comment, according to the organisation. As pressure mounts internationally, observers say the next test will be whether PEMRA enforces penalties against any broadcaster — a step that would signal the directive is operational policy rather than regulatory posturing.