JournalismPakistan.com | Published December 25, 2016
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD – After many months of troubles and tangle with the law, BOL News finally switched to its regular transmission Sunday.
For over two months, the channel ran its test transmission.
The main headline in the news bulletin announced the launch that coincided with the birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
For BOL, it has been a journey made difficult by a string of controversies. The channel ran into problems with the authorities that prevented its launch in 2015.
The trouble began when a New York Times story in May 2015 claimed BOL’s main company Axact was engaged in business of selling fake degrees to students.
This led to the arrest of CEO Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and several of his managers who languished in jail for 15 months before being set free. The channel’s licenses were also suspended.
It is widely believed BOL was targeted by the authorities and the big leaguers of Pakistani media just when it was about to take off and therefore could never go on air that year.
It is said that BOL Media Group’s rivals, among them Geo, feel threatened by its strong financial muscle and latest technology.
Only this week BOL and Geo traded accusations after news surfaced of an Axact executive being charged by a US court in a fake degree scam.
On the eve of its launch, alarm bells began to ring loud for BOL when PEMRA served a show cause notice to Labbaik (Pvt) Ltd, licensee for BOL News and BOL Entertainment for not getting security clearance of four directors.
However, the channel pressed ahead and launched much to the relief of its staff and well-wishers.
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.