Joining TV talk shows as defence analyst: ISPR nod must for inviting ex-military officials, says Pemra

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has made appearance of retired military officers as “defence analyst” in talk shows on matters of national security and military subject to clearance from the military. They may take part in other talk shows as analysts.

In a notification No. 13(89)/OPS/2018 dated April 4, 2019, the media regulator has directed all TV channels to seek prior clearance from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) before inviting retired military officers on news and current affairs programmes “to solicit their views on matters of national security”.

A notification, issued by PEMRA, stated that “concerned quarters” have observed that retired military officers, when invited on TV programmes, “are usually not fully conversant with the latest defence and security developments due to their service background and post-retirement time”.

Pemra noted that discussions featuring such retired personnel “mostly switches from security matters to politics, which inadvertently embroils military officers into a political debate” — a situation it described as “undesirable”.

The notification said: “All news/current affairs TV channels are requested that retired armed forces officers may only be invited as Defence Analyst for discussion on military matters with prior clearance from ISPR. Subsequently, same (has) to be done prior to the first appearance of any officer as Defence Analyst.”

“Retired military officers, if invited in talk shows for discussion other than security matters should be titled as analyst only. However, procedure for clearance may be processed with ISPR as Defence Analyst,” the notification added, seeking strict compliance with the instruction by the TV channels.