In a clear attempt to control the narrative, Pakistan’s media regulator PEMRA has issued notices to several TV news channels for covering the recent attack by the Baloch Liberation Army’s (BLA) Majeed Brigade on a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors in Karachi. This action has sparked widespread condemnation from media organizations, highlighting the increasing pressure on Pak media to suppress reporting on uncomfortable truths, particularly those involving the Pakistan Army and its failures.
The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) slammed the notices as illegal and a blatant effort to silence the press. They denounced PEMRA’s move as part of a larger strategy to impose unlawful censorship, especially on issues that expose the Army state’s vulnerabilities. In this case, PEMRA’s actions come after TV channels reported responsibly on the Karachi incident, where the BLA carried out a well-coordinated attack on Chinese nationals, undermining the narrative the Pakistan Army tried to peddle.
AEMEND pointed out that contrary to PEMRA’s baseless accusations, the TV channels had maintained a high level of professionalism, adhering to the national interest, media ethics, and legal frameworks. They ensured the public was informed, even when the Paki establishment and law enforcement agencies were slow to respond, or in this case, misleading the public by initially labeling the attack as an accident involving a tanker explosion.
The notices are a part of a broader campaign to shield the Pakistan Army and other Army-backed institutions from public scrutiny. The Army, notorious for its heavy-handed tactics, has long been manipulating the media to downplay incidents that reveal its inefficiency, especially in Pak-occupied-Balochistan and other conflict zones. This attack, which resulted in casualties among Chinese engineers, was a significant blow to Pakistan’s image and its so-called “strategic partnership” with China, prompting the occupied-authorities to clamp down on media outlets that dared to report the truth.
Pak Army trying to cover BLA’s Karachi attack
AEMEND has pledged to challenge the notices, asserting that no institution, including the Pakistan Army, is above the law. They emphasized that using PEMRA as a tool for intimidation is unacceptable and reflects the Army’s desperation to maintain control over the public discourse. AEMEND has also announced plans to convene a special executive committee meeting to explore legal options and coordinate with other media organizations to counter the state’s increasing censorship.
This crackdown on the press comes at a time when the Pakistan Army, already facing growing criticism for its failures in POB and its suppression of dissent, seems determined to avoid any negative portrayal. Instead of addressing the root causes of unrest, such as the Army’s long history of human rights abuses and exploitation in the region, it appears more focused on stifling independent journalism that dares to expose these truths.
The recent BLA fidayeen attack near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, which specifically targeted a high-level Chinese delegation, has drawn international attention. The Pakistan Army’s initial attempts to downplay the incident by claiming it was merely a tanker explosion, rather than an attack, further demonstrated the lengths it will go to in order to obscure the reality of its security failures.
It was only after investigative journalists and certain TV channels verified the facts that both Pakistan and China were forced to officially acknowledge the BLA attack, exposing the Paki establishment’s attempts to manipulate public perception.