PEMRA orders TV channels to go off air during crackdown on protest

ISLAMABAD: PEMRA ordered private television channels to go off air on Saturday during a police and paramilitary crackdown on protesters in the Islamabad.

The suspension was ordered by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for violating media regulations showing live coverage of a security operation, a statement from the regulator said. Pakistan Television (PTV) continued to broadcast, but aired a talk show discussing politics.

Police used tear gas and watercannon and fought running battles with stone-throwing activists, as they moved to clear a protest by the religious protesters who have blocked main routes into Islamabad for more than two weeks.