Supreme Court orders BOL to respond to PEMRA show cause notice

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 8 February 2017

The Supreme Court upheld a decision by PEMRA to ban Aamir Liaquat's program on BOL News. BOL is required to respond to a show cause notice from PEMRA.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court Wednesday upheld a PEMRA decision to ban Aamir Liaquat Hussain’s program Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga on BOL News for airing hate speech.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim and comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel ordered that BOL News management must respond in writing to a PEMRA show cause notice.

The court said BOL managers should appear before PEMRA to argue their case and let the regulator decide appropriate action.

PEMRA served the show cause notice on BOL for defying the ban slapped on Aamir Liaquat and his program.

The notice said: “….BOL News in blatant and deliberate violation….not only telecast program Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga but also the host Dr. Aamir Liaquat appeared on BOL News at 22:45 on January 26, 2017. Later the program was re-telecast by the TV management again in violation of the PEMRA orders.”

KEY POINTS:

• Supreme Court upheld PEMRA's decision against Aamir Liaquat's program.
• BOL News must respond to a show cause notice regarding the airing of hate speech.
• The court mandated BOL managers to appear before PEMRA.
• The show cause notice was issued for violating the ban on Aamir Liaquat's program.
• The program was previously re-telecast despite PEMRA orders.