PEMRA issues notice to two channels for airing analysis in Farishta Rape case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the Ministry of Interior and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) over a petition filed to protect the identities of rape and sexual abuse victims.

Petitioners Sharafat Ali and Umar Sajid Chain, in their petition, said that in the wake of Zainab Ansari’s rape and murder in Kasur last month, the identities of rape victims were being publicly disclosed.

“Disclosing the identities of rape victims on television channels and in newspapers is a violation of the law and is a punishable offence,” the petitioner argued.

IHC Justice Athar Minallah, issued notices to the Ministry of Interior and PEMRA and set a 15-day deadline for them to submit their explanations in this regard.