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Pakistan Bans Jamaat-ud-Dawa’s Media Coverage

The National Action Plan was devised in January this year after the Peshawar Army Public School massacre in which over 150 people, mostly school children, were killed.

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The United Nations says the organisation is a “deadly militant group” which is blamed for a bloody 2008 attack on the Indian city of Mumbai.

Hafiz Saeed, who is the main mastermind behind the26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has been facing charges from India in which over 160 people were killed and hundreds others injured.

The agency that regulates Pakistani media issued the order late Monday, specifically mentioning Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation.

On 2 November, Pakistan announced a ban on media coverage of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) as a part of a wider crackdown on terror. This is for the first time Pakistan has admitted that JuD and FIF are “other wings of LeT”.

It was not clear whether the move of banning coverage was linked to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s assurance to US President Barack Obama last month to take “effective action” against UN-designated terrorist individuals and entities, including LeT and its affiliates, as per its global commitments and obligations under UN Security Council resolutions.

The directive also prohibits outlets from broadcasting any programme that could potentially incite violence or is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order.

Pemra added that non-compliance would invoke legal action that could result in fines or the potential termination of a broadcaster’s licence.

The directive has been issued following the review of the 20-point National Action Plan (NAP).

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When asked to comment on accusations that Pakistan continues to provide sanctuary to Taliban leaders, Schultz responded, “Pakistan’s continuing significant military operations have had significant impact”.

Pakistan bars its media from covering Hafiz Saeed's LeT, JuD