Islamabad: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has prohibited all television channels from airing news or reports on the F-9 Park rape case in order to protect the victim’s identity, it emerged yesterday.

On Feb 2, a first information report (FIR) was registered at Islamabad’s Margalla police station under Section 376 (punishment for rape). According to the complainant, she had gone to the park along with a male colleague when two men stopped them at gunpoint and took them towards a jungle. She said the men beat her up, raped her and told her to “not come to the park at this time”. In a notification issued on Feb 5, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Pemra noted that few satellite television channels were running reports with regard to the case wherein the identity of the survivor was revealed.

“This is a violation of clause 8 of Pemra Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisments) Code of Conduct 2015. “While exercising powers conferred under Section 27 (a) of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002, as amended by Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007, broadcast/rebroadcast of news/reports with regard to F-9 Park Islamabad incident is PROHIBITED, with immediate effect,” the notification said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 08 2023

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