Press Freedom Under Attack: Noor Ul Arfeen Criticizes Chairman PEMRA

BOL News anchorperson Noor ul Arfeen Siddiqui described the Chairman PEMRA’s illegal instructions, as illegal, malicious, hostile to the media and an attack on Press Freedom.

Note that Chairman PEMRA has given illegal instructions to cable operators to shut down BOL News in different cities or place it on last numbers.

While hosted BOL News Program Meri Jung, Noor Ul Arfeen demanded to stop the killing of journalists economically.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan should take notice and resolve the grievances.

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آزادی صحافت پر ایک اور حملہ
بول کی نشریات بند کرنے اور آخری نمبر پر ڈالنے کی فرمائش
پیمرا کی جانب سے کیبل آپریٹرز پر شدید دباو
نورالعارفین صدیقی کی کڑی تنقید #BOLNews #MeriJang #Pemra #Media @NoorulArfeenSid pic.twitter.com/22W3MnkxhR

— BOLNetwork (@BOLNETWORK) February 7, 2021

Itis to be noted that, Labbaik Pvt. Ltd, BOL News has submitted a complaint to register an FIR against Chairman PEMRA Saleem Baig and others to the SHO of Zaman Town.

Contempt of court petition against PEMRA Chairman Saleem Baig and others has also been filed by BOL News.

Chairman PEMRA Saleem Baig, DG Distribution, Regional Manager Akram Barkar, Inspector Lahore Mohammad Akram, Inspector PEMRA Lahore Mazhar have been made respondents in the petition.

As per the petition, Chairman PEMRA has given illegal instructions to cable operators to shut down BOL News in different cities despite the court orders given on 25th January. PEMRA officials have threatened the cable operators to put BOL News on the last number.

The petition filed by BOL News highlighted how PEMRA officials are deliberately violating court orders. For the contempt of court, BOL news urges to summon the Chairman PEMRA and others to the court.

Moreover, the petition stated that strict action should be taken against PEMRA officials for violating court orders.

It is pertinent to mention here that PEMRA despite the court orders started to ban BOL News transmission in different areas of the country and changed its number on the cable.

Labbaik Pvt Ltd is a private company registered with SECP and running BOL News and BOL Entertainment.

The chairmanship of Saleem Baig was earlier challenged in Peshawar High Court. After that, the PEMRA chairman has initiated illegal measures against BOL Media Group, stated the petition.

Moreover, on February 3, Saleem Baig himself issued illegal instructions to cable operators to stop BOL News and Entertainment broadcast or place it on the last numbers.

The petition further stated that the case should be registered against the chairman PEMRA and others accused of shutting down BOL News and Entertainment illegally.

BOL News management has also provided evidence against Chairman PEMRA to the police for the attempt to shut down the channel.