Neo News reporter files complaint with PEMRA, seeks action against ARY

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 4 August 2017

Shakir Abbasi, a reporter for Neo News, has lodged a complaint with PEMRA against ARY News for false reporting. He is seeking regulatory action after being misrepresented during a press conference involving Ayesha Gulalai.
Summary

ISLAMABAD – Shakir Abbasi (pictured, left), a reporter with Neo Television Friday filed a complaint with regulator PEMRA seeking action against ARY News for airing false news about him.

During PTI MNA Ayesha Gulalai’s press conference on August 1, ARY repeatedly reported that Abbasi was a relative of Reham Khan, former wife of PTI chief Imran Khan.

The channel also portrayed Abbasi as being one of the masterminds of Gulalai’s news conference.

Abbasi said in his complaint he was no relative of Reham but was her colleague when she worked at Neo Television for about six months.

He said that ARY gave the impression that he was an agent of Reham and PML-N who was working against PTI.

In his complaint, Abbasi said that such irresponsible and false reporting was against PEMRA laws, and therefore action be taken against the channel.

Abbasi handed over his complaint to Chairman PEMRA Absar Alam (pictured, right).

Key Points

Shakir Abbasi filed a complaint with PEMRA.
ARY News aired false information about him.
He was misrepresented as a relative of Reham Khan.
Complaints are based on violations of PEMRA laws.
Abbasi seeks regulatory action against ARY.

Relevant Topics

NEO News

PEMRA

ARY News

Ayesha Gulalai

Media Ethics

Journalism

Ask AI: Understand this story your way

AI Enabled

Dig deeper, ask anything — get instant context, background, and clarity.

Language

Format

Tone

Audience

Focus

Reading level

Length

The AI generates results based on your selected options

Your AI-generated results will appear here after you click the button.

Disclaimer: This feature is powered by AI and is intended to help readers explore and understand news stories more easily. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated responses may occasionally be incomplete or reflect limitations in the underlying model. This feature does not represent the editorial views of JournalismPakistan. For our full, verified reporting, please refer to the original article.

From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines

April 19, 2026: Pakistan's media faced regulatory scrutiny, leadership changes and digital consolidation, highlighting industry stress and rising international recognition.

Five stories showing pressure on Pakistan media

April 13, 2026: Five incidents show growing legal, economic and state pressure on Pakistan's media, from cybercrime cases and opaque ads to layoffs and access constraints.

A global story, locally missing: Pakistan media under scrutiny

April 12, 2026: Pakistan's media received global attention during Iran-US talks in Islamabad but mostly ran agency tickers and official optics, exposing gaps in beat reporting.

Islamabad Talks: Access is the first casualty of journalism

April 12, 2026: As US-Iran talks in Islamabad concluded, journalists reported that tight security and enforced perimeters limited direct access and source engagement, constraining real-time reporting.

Pakistan journalists flag access issues at Iran-US talks

April 11, 2026: Pakistani journalists say they faced restricted access and unequal accreditation at Iran-US diplomatic events, citing limited communication by media teams.

Pakistan opens visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists

April 10, 2026: Pakistan will allow visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists and delegates attending the Islamabad Talks 2026; local media reportedly face restrictions on live reporting.

Pakistan assembly queries on ad spending go unanswered

April 07, 2026: Lawmakers received no answers from Pakistan's Information Ministry on media ad spending, raising concerns over transparency in allocation of public funds.

Pakistan journalist health scheme sees low uptake

April 07, 2026: A government health insurance scheme for journalists recorded low uptake, with only 187 of 4,537 enrolled media workers accessing benefits since July 2024.

Newsroom

Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns

April 21, 2026 Kash Patel's defamation suit against The Atlantic has intensified scrutiny of legal pressures on journalists and raised concerns about press freedom.

Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics

April 20, 2026 Irshad Bhatti's podcast interview with actor Meera drew criticism after he pressed personal topics and Meera walked out, sparking debate over media accountability.

One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media

April 20, 2026 Dan Qayyum's viral article drew one million views in days, igniting debate about independent creators' reach and what it means for Pakistan's newsrooms.

Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress

April 19, 2026 Across Asia, journalists faced growing legal pressure, expanded surveillance and attacks on media outlets, even as a key appointment boosted gender diversity.

Five reasons slow news days strengthen journalism

April 19, 2026 Slow news days give journalists time to verify facts, pursue in-depth reporting, and reduce errors, strengthening overall newsroom accuracy and long-form storytelling.