PEMRA chooses Press Freedom Day to revoke BOL licenses

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 3 May 2017

PEMRA has revoked the licenses of BOL News and BOL Entertainment after the Interior Ministry expressed concerns about the security clearance of the directors. The channels must cease transmission immediately and surrender their licenses.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – Electronic media regulator PEMRA chose the Press Freedom Day Wednesday to announce the cancellation of BOL News and BOL Entertainment (Pak News) after the Interior Ministry regretted giving security clearance to the company’s directors.

PEMRA said that directors Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, Ayesha Shoaib Shaikh, Viqas Atiq and Sarwat Bashir were not given the required clearance.

The licenses stand revoked with immediate effect, the regulator announced.

It said the decision was taken Tuesday during the Authority's 131st meeting in light of recommendations made by the Council of Complaints Sindh. These were put forth after hearing the channel.

BOL News and BOL Entertainment (Pak News) have been ordered to surrender the original licenses and clear all outstanding dues.

PEMRA said it had instructed PakSat to immediately stop the transmission of the two channels which were no more its licensees.

Key Points

PEMRA announced license revocation on Press Freedom Day.
BOL directors lacked required security clearance.
Decision made during PEMRA's 131st meeting.
Channels must surrender their licenses immediately.
Transmission stop ordered by PakSat.

Relevant Topics

PEMRA

BOL News

BOL Entertainment

Media Regulation

License Revocation

Press Freedom

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