PEMRA lifts ISPR approval rule for Defense Analysts on national TV

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Media Authority PEMRA has withdrawn a controversial notification on defence analysts, which required approval from the spokesperson of the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The latest development comes as the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has formally withdrawn an official notification requiring defence analysts to seek approval from the armed forces before appearing on national TV.

As soon as PEMRA withdrew the notification, the Islamabad High Court remarked that the case can be closed if the petitioners are satisfied with the cancellation. In the previous hearing, Justice Babar Sattar had declared the notification null and void and allowed the authorities to look into the matter.

With the court receiving an official update on the cancellation of the order by PEMRA, the petitions challenging the ban have now been closed, resolving the case.

In a previous hearing in the Islamabad High Court, Justice Babar Sattar expressed reservations over the military’s media wing, the ISPR, claiming that it claims “exclusive right” to determine who qualifies as a defense analyst. The issue arose from a 2019 directive by Pemra that required television channels to seek ISPR’s approval before inviting retired military officers to speak on national security.

The directive was challenged by the Ex-Servicemen’s Legal Forum, with legal hawks questioning the authority of the military’s media wing and the validity of Pemra’s pre-clearance, asking what it had to do with national security.