The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has prohibited all news channels from airing news on the Islamabad F-9 Park rape case in order to protect the victim’s identity.
On February 2, a first information report (FIR) of the Islamabad F-9 Park rape case was filed at Margalla police station under Section 376. According to the complainant, she was at the park with a male colleague when two armed men intercepted them. They then took them to the nearby trees and separated the two, before subjecting the woman to the heinous act. The victim was also tortured during her ordeal.
In a notification, Pemra noted that few satellite television channels were running news regarding the rape case wherein the identity of the victim was revealed.
“This is a violation of clause 8 of Pemra Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisments) Code of Conduct 2015.”
“While exercising powers conferred under Section 27 (a) of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002, as amended by Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007, broadcast/rebroadcast of news/reports with regard to F-9 Park Islamabad incident is PROHIBITED, with immediate effect,” the notification said.
In the case of non-compliance, it warned, the licence of the television channel may be suspended without any show cause notice in the public interest along with other enabling provisions of law.
In the last six months of previous year, 2,439 women were raped, 9,529 were kidnapped, and 90 women were killed in the name of ‘honour’ in the province.
The data, which was released by the Punjab Information Commission on behalf of the Punjab Police, paints a bleak picture of violence against women and children in Punjab.
From July to December 2021, nearly 900 children were sexually abused, while 204 cases of child labour were reported and 12 instances of under-aged marriage were registered.
In the provincial capital, 2,330 women were kidnapped during the six-month time frame and nearly 400 rape cases were registered in Lahore.
In Sheikhupura, there were 78 rape cases and 990 reports of torture, while 423 women were registered as kidnapped. In Nankana Sahib, almost 400 women were tortured, 423 were kidnapped and at least 32 reported rape.
In Kasur, an astounding 1,239 women registered instances of torture during the past six months, while another 371 reported kidnappings and 101 reported rape. Gujranwala reported 777 cases of women being tortured, 309 kidnapping cases and 78 rape cases. Finally, in Faisalabad, there were 318 cases of torture against women and children, 94 kidnapping cases and 41 rape cases in the past six months.
