Instead of putting an end to terrorism, Pakistan bans media from covering terror attacks

It has been observed with grave concern that despite repeated directives satellite TV channels are unable to comply with provisions of the Electronic Media Code of Conduct-2015 in letter and spirit: Authorities

The Pakistan government has issued orders prohibiting media from airing terrorist attacks, according to a report in The News International newspaper.

"It has been observed with grave concern that despite repeated directives satellite TV channels are unable to comply with provisions of the Electronic Media Code of Conduct-2015 in letter and spirit," the authorities said in a statement.

The regulator body has the view that electronic media resort to marathon transmission ignoring basic journalistic norms and ethics only to "take lead" and "credit" for breaking the news first. It added that the channels violate journalistic ethics by "airing live images of the crime scene."

According to the regulatory body, news channels amid a terror attack, resort to marathon transmission ignoring basic journalistic norms and ethics only to "take lead" and "credit" for breaking the news first. It added that the channels violate journalistic ethics by "airing live images of the crime scene."

"Satellite TV channels and their staff are found ambivalent of not only their security but also create hurdles in rescue and combat operations," the PEMRA said. The content aired under such a situation is "unverified, speculative without consulting security agencies present on the spot", according to the electronic media watchdog. The authority's notification said that such reporting creates chaos among domestic and overseas viewers.

The statement claims that such reports give benefits to terrorists for "using media as a form of political advertising" and serve their ideological purposes by "publicising their campaign", The News International reported. "Moreover, media coverage of such incidents also gives terrorists an organisational advantage by allowing a specific group to exhibit its strength and audaciousness in comparison with its rivals," the watchdog stated.

What has surprised many is that this is the same country that has nurtured terrorism to target India without realising that snakes in its backyard can bite it someday. This is evident as the country has been facing a rise in terror attacks. Karachi is the latest target of terrorists as they recently barged into Karachi's strictly-guarded police office in Sharea Faisal.