Government tells PEMRA to block BOL transmission

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 28 May 2015

The Federal Information Ministry has intervened to suspend BOL News transmission amidst serious allegations against its parent company Axact. The channel's official launch is now uncertain pending investigations.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Information Ministry Thursday wrote to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) telling them to block transmission of BOL News until investigations into alleged diploma scam by the channel's parent company Axact were completed. Axact landed into trouble after The New York Times published a story this month claiming the company was involved in selling fake diplomas. “A letter has been sent to PEMRA to stop BOL's transmission on a temporary basis,” Federal Information Secretary Muhammad Azam told DawnNews via telephone. An FIR was registered against seven individuals including CEO and Chairman of Axact and BOL Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh. The individuals named in the FIR were subsequently arrested and are in FIA remand until June 7. The channel is scheduled to officially launch its transmission on first of Ramadan.

KEY POINTS:

• PEMRA ordered to block BOL News transmission.
• Investigations are ongoing into Axact's alleged diploma scam.
• An FIR has been filed against Axact's CEO and six others.
• The accused are currently in FIA remand until June 7.
• BOL News was set to launch on the first of Ramadan.