Crackdown on Ahmadiyya TV channels

Islamabad; January 17, 2019:  

PEMRA has issued instructions to all Regional General Managers of this department to stop transmissions and relaying of a number of STV channels, immediately, including the Ahmadiyya MTA 1&2 telecasted from London.

It is relevant to mention that these two channels are relayed worldwide and there is hardly a country that considers their programs and content objectionable.

Pakistan’s Constitution provides in Article 20:

“Subject to law, public order and morality (a) every citizen shall have the right to profess, practice and propagate his religion; and (b) every religious denomination and every sect thereof shall have the right to establish, maintain and manage its religious institutions.”

In the light of the above, PEMRA circular No.… OPS-D/2018/1399 dated January 17, 2019 is in flagrant violation of the country’s constitution.