PEMRA direct­s TV channe­ls to refrai­n from inviti­ng the religi­ous party leader in their talk showsISLAMABAD: Former senator Hafiz Hamdullah, who belongs to the Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led faction of Jamiat Ulema-a-Islam (JUI-F), has been declared “confirmed alien” by the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA). In a letter, dated October 11, 2019, NADRA said Hamdullah “is not a citizen of Pakistan”. “Therefore, NADRA vide its orders U/S 18(1) & 17(2) has cancelled and digitally impounded the CNIC issued to Mr Hafiz Hamdullah Saboor,” the authority said. Federal govt bans JUI-F’s Ansarul Islam ‘militia’In pursuance to the NADRA’s decision, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) directed all television channels stop inviting him in their talk shows. Retired civil servant Orya Maqbool Jan said he knew the Chaman-based family of Hamdullah ‘very well’ and that the NADRA decision was ‘wrong’.

Source: The Express Tribune October 26, 2019 12:16 UTC