Two soldiers embraced martyrdom during an intense crossfire between a group of militants and security forces in Singwan area of Kech district, the military’s media affairs wing said in a statement on Thursday. 

Unidentified gunmen attacked a check post along the Pak-Iran border. Security officials repulsed the attack after heavy exchange of fire. 

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), since troops on the check post were already alert and responded gallantly with all available weapons, a heavy fire exchange ensued. 

Security forces pushed back the terrorists successfully, however, during the intense fire exchange, two soldiers Sepoy Hasnain Ishtiaq, 34, of Dera Ghazi Khan district and Sepoy Inayatullah, 27, of Jhal Magsi district embraced martyrdom while fighting bravely with the terrorists. 

Later, security forces launched an immediate sanitisation operation in the area and are in communication with Iranian authorities across as well to deny terrorists any opportunity to escape. 

Security forces, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace and stability all along the borders in Balochistan, the ISPR release said.

A day earlier, two terrorists were gunned down by security forces in an operation conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan district.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has barred the television channels from coverage of “hate mongers, perpetrators and their facilitators” in order to maintain peace and tranquility in the country. 

In its latest directives to the television channels, the regulatory body calls for ensuring the provision of right to freedom of speech and expression to citizens, but it is subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the country. 

“As per Article 19 of the Constitution of The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, [commission of] or incitement to an offence.” 

It further said, “It is crucial to strike a balance between protecting freedom of speech and maintaining public order. Restrictions on speech during riots or situations of unrest are often aimed at preventing the escalation of violence and safeguarding the safety and well-being of the general public.” 

Pemra also gave a reference of May 9 incidents when protests had erupted in various cities following the arrest of a political party’s head. During the protests, military properties were ransacked by the workers of the PTI. 

It said “politically charged up zealots of political party” attacked state and public properties, endangered innocent lives, and promoted anti-state elements to weaken the country and state institutions. 

Calling the incidents condemnable, the notification stated: “In the wake of aforementioned scenario, all satellite TV channel licensees are directed to remain vigilant and not to promote any hate monger, perpetrators and their facilitators inadvertently.” 

The regulatory body had directed the channels to avoid promoting hatemongers, adding that planners and perpetrators of hateful violence should not be promoted on television, and violent, discriminatory content not should be aired. 

“The licensee shall ensure that nothing is contained in any programme, or an advertisement, which is prejudicial to the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan, ideology of Pakistan, security, friendly relations with foreign states, public order or which may constitute contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence or brings into disrepute the State institutions including armed forces,” the notification read. 

It also directed all television channels “to adhere to [the] provisions of PEMRA laws and orders of the superior courts by refraining from providing their airtime to such individuals who propagate hate speech and provoke public sentiments against the Federation and State Institutions.” It also advised the broadcasters to use of an effective time delay mechanism to ensure effective monitoring of the content being aired live.

“No licensee shall broadcast any live programme unless there is an effective delaying mechanism put in place in order to ensure effective monitoring and editorial control in conformity with this Code.” 

The Islamabad High Court has issued a written order suspending the summons of former chief justice Saqib Nisar’s son on a petition against the formation of a special committee to probe the audio leak. 

Islamabad High Court’s Justice Babar Sattar has issued a seven-page written order. 

In the written order, the court has sought assistance of the Attorney General on the recordings and audio leaks of the telephonic conversations of the public. The court has also directed the Federation, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to be made parties to the petition. 

All the parties, including the secretary of the National Assembly, have been instructed to give a clause-wise reply. The court has appointed Aitzaz Ahsan, Makhdoom Ali Khan, Raza Rabbani and Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha as amici curiae. 

In the written order, the court said it should be stated whether the constitution and the law allowed surveillance and secret recording of the calls of the citizens? “If phone recording was allowed, which authority or agency could do this by what mechanism? What safeguards were in place to keep audio recordings confidential and prevent misuse?” 

“If not permitted, which authority was responsible for violation of citizens’ privacy? The court had asked who would be responsible for releasing illegally recorded calls? Tell whether Parliament could inquire into the matter of a private person? Do the rules allow the speaker to set up a special committee on audio leak of a common man?” the court further asked. 

Justice Sattar said the court was not suspending notification of the special committee out of respect for parliament and showing restraint. 

According to the order of the Islamabad High Court, the summons issued by the special committee to petitioner Najamus Saqib was suspended.