PEMRA stops Geo News from airing Altaf Hussain's interview

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 20 August 2015

PEMRA intervened to stop Geo News from broadcasting an interview with Altaf Hussain. The decision has sparked curiosity due to the interview's non-controversial content.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Wednesday night stopped Geo News from broadcasting interview of MQM chief Altaf Hussain. Hussain had recorded an interview with Salim Safi for his program Jjirga and it was scheduled to be broadcast at 11pm. A source tells JournalismPakistan.com that PEMRA directed Geo News management not to air the interview a few hours before it was to be broadcast. “There was nothing controversial in it. We don’t know as to why Geo was asked not to air it,” he said. “Altaf Hussain talked about national unity and even sang a national song during the interview.” A few weeks back PEMRA slapped a ban on live broadcast of speeches by Hussain. However, he has recently given detailed interviews to different channels after his party tendered resignations from the parliament and Sindh Assembly.

KEY POINTS:

• PEMRA halted the broadcast of Altaf Hussain's interview on Geo News.
• The interview was slated for 11pm and focused on national unity.
• This is not the first restriction imposed on Hussain's broadcasts by PEMRA.
• Hussain recently gave interviews after resignations from parliament.
• The chapter raises questions regarding media freedom in Pakistan.