Pakistan bars TV channels, radio stations from covering JuD, LeT
Pakistani authorities on Monday directed TV channels and radio stations to blank out coverage of terror groups such as the Jamaat-ud-Dawah and Lashkar-e-Taiba in line with sanctions imposed with the UN Security Council.
A directive issued by Pakistan’s media regulator described the move as a follow-up to a list circulated by the federal government last month of banned terror groups.
The directive said all satellite TV channels and FM radio stations were “strictly directed not to give any kind of coverage to any proscribed organisation, including Jamaat-udDawa (JuD), Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), Lashkar-eTayyiba (LeT) in breach of the obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions”.
It added: “Moreover, any advertisements for fund collection by proscribed organisations in electronic media shall also constitute a breach of these obligations.”
However, the JuD continues to be only a “watch list” in the new list of terror and extremist groups circulated on October 28 by Pakistan’s interior ministry. The LeT, which was founded by Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, is among the 60 banned terrorist organisations.
Pakistan has not yet issued a formal notification to ban the JuD, which India and American security officials accuse of fund-raising and recruiting on behalf of the LeT.