Daily Times

LAHORE: The Pakistan Electronic Media  Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has suspended transmission of all the TV channels.

Earlier, the media watch-dog had also barred media from live coverage of government’s crackdown against protesters of religious groups.

Read more: Islamabad sit-in: Security forces launch massive operation to disperse protesters

Talking to Daily Times, PEMRA sources said the federal government can issue a policy directive to PEMRA under Section 5 of PEMRA Ordinance and the media watchdog is bound to follow it.

A statement issued later on Saturday advised TV channels to exhibit utmost sensitivity regarding the matter and refrain from live coverage.

Demonstrators have taken to the streets in major cities around the country on Saturday to protest massive crackdown by security forces in Islamabad to disperse the protestors who had staged the sit-in for weeks.

Related: Protests spread to cities nationwide over Islamabad’s operation

Protesters have started gathering at key points across the country including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpur Azad Kashmir, Tando Allahyar, Jacobabad, Chakwal, Sabrial, Faisalabad and Gujranwala.