May 2017
May 02: Lahore High Court asks government to add blasphemy punishment to cybercrime law. https://www.dawn.com/news/1330486/govt-told-to-add-punishment-for-blasphemy-to-cyber-crime-law
May 03: Banned militant group ‘Balochistan liberation Front (BLF)’ warned local media in Quetta against non-publication of its statements as the government of Balochistan banned statements from outlawed organizations like BLA, ‘Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and other separatists groups in Quetta-based newspapers and barred private news agencies like Online , NNI and INP from facilitating their statements.
May 03: PEMRA revokes Bol Network licence after failing to secure security clearance of the network’s directors from the Interior Ministry.
May 04: Sindh High Court restores Bol Network licence after PEMRA revoked following no security clearance of directors of the network.
May 08: PEMRA chief Absar Alam says he and his employees are “under threat” and appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa to take notice of the threat. https://www.dawn.com/news/1331837/pemra-chairman-claims-employees-under-threat-appeals-for-govts-help
May 10: PEMRA slaps rupees 100,000 fine on Geo News channel for “derogatory remarks” in its talk-show against politicians. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1406371/pemra-slaps-rs100000-fine-geo-news-airing-derogatory-remarks/
May 11: The federal government directs All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) to “take action” against Dawn newspaper editor Zaffar Abbas and assistant editor Cyril Almeida in DawLeak case.
May 11: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa “takes notice” of threats to electrionic media regulatory body PEMRA chief Absar Alam and other employees. https://www.dawn.com/news/1332457/pm-coas-take-notice-of-threats-to-pemra-employees
May 12: PEMRA warns TV channels against airing content “jeopardizing army’s image.” https://www.dawn.com/news/1332680/pemra-warns-tv-channels-not-to-air-content-jeopardising-militarys-image
May 17: Abdul Razzaq, ARY News channel correspondent in Kasur district of Punjab province, was killed by robbers while another ARY News channel’s correspondent injured when robbers trying to loot a doctor opened fire at the journalists who were filming and chasing the dacoits.
May 19: Geo News sports reporter Akbar Yosufzai was attacked while doing story on illegal occupation of F-7 Cricket ground by a CDA official- CDA assistant director along with chairman CDA business partner’s son attacking the reporter.
May 24: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directs Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to formulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) for putting in place a framework, which ensures that “social media is used as a medium to facilitate positive, constructive and healthy interactions.” https://www.dawn.com/news/1335143/nisar-directs-pta-to-prepare-mechanism-for-regulating-social-media
May 30: FIA arrests online activist Adnan Afzal Qureshi in Lahore for “criticizing” the country’s military in his online posts and charged him under controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. https://www.dawn.com/news/1336440/activist-held-in-first-case-about-maligning-forces-on-social-media