ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s electronic media regulatory authority banned television channels from covering “terrorist attacks” and bomb blasts on Monday, accusing them of sharing “unverified, speculative” information without consulting security agencies on the spot.

Pakistan previously banned coverage of militant organizations through print and electronic media when it approved the National Action Plan (NAP) through the parliament in 2014. Over the past couple of years, bomb blasts and militant attacks declined in the country as Pakistan stepped up security operations against militants in the country.

However, media channels have increasingly focused on militant attacks over the past couple of months as the emboldened Pakistani Taliban increase attacks against security forces in the country.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) stated in its notification reminded TV channels of its earlier directives of banning the broadcast, re-broadcast, and live coverage of “unfortunate incidences, explosions, blasts, and terrorist attacks.”

“It has been noticed that after the occurrence of an unfortunate incidence such as an explosion/blast or attack by miscreants, satellite TV channels resort to marathon transmission, ignoring basic journalist norms and ethics,” PEMRA said.

It added that news channels did this to take the lead over each other and break the news first, which often included airing live images of the crime scene.

PEMRA said TV channels and their staff not only endanger their security but also hinder combat and rescue operations. “Moreover, information shared thereof on the news channels is unverified, speculative without consulting security agencies present on the spot,” it added.

The media regulatory body said such reporting triggers panic and unwarranted chaos among viewers not only in Pakistan but also among overseas Pakistanis.

“Reporting of such incidents gives advantages to terrorists for using media as a forum of political advertising which serves terrorist’s ideological purposes by publicizing their campaign,” it added.

PEMRA concluded by saying that such reporting also provides militants an organizational advantage, adding that it allows a specific group to “exhibit its strength and audaciousness in comparison with its rivals.”