PEMRA suspends licenses of ARY News and Geo Entertainment

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 20 June 2014

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has suspended the licenses of Geo Entertainment and ARY News for breaches of media regulations. Both channels face significant fines and bans on specific programs as a result of the violations.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Friday suspended licenses of Geo Entertainment and ARY News Television channels for committing violations of PEMRA laws. The decision came at PEMRA's 97th meeting held at its Islamabad headquarters. Geo Entertainment was banned for 30 days along with a fine of Rs 10 million with ARY ban lasting 15 days. A fine of Rs 10 million was also imposed.

A press release issued by PEMRA following that meeting said: " The AuthorityAfter detailed discussions, while considering all the relevant provisions of PEMRA laws, took a serious notice of violations committed by Geo Entertainment and ARY News.

"The Authority unanimously decided to immediately suspend the license of Geo Entertainment for a period of 30 days and imposed a fine of Rs 10 million," the release said.

PEMRA also banned program Utho Jago Pakistan, aired on Geo Entertainment including host Saista Lodhi, producer and some others besides also banning rebroadcasting of this program on any channel.

The press release said that ARY News license has been suspended for 15 days and a fine of Rs 10million slapped on the channel. Its program Khara Such and its host Mubashir Lucman were also banned forthwith for persistently airing contemptuous and malicious campaign against the judiciary.

KEY POINTS:

• PEMRA suspended Geo Entertainment for 30 days and imposed a Rs 10 million fine.
• ARY News' license was suspended for 15 days with a similar fine of Rs 10 million.
• The program Utho Jago Pakistan and Khara Such have been banned.
• The decisions were made during PEMRA's 97th meeting in Islamabad.
• Both channels were cited for contemptuous campaigns against the judiciary.