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

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.

Explore Further

State actors cited in four of five media threat cases

November 13, 2026: Freedom Network recorded five October cases involving threats, an alleged assault or legal pressure against Pakistani journalists.

Who holds Pakistan's media regulators accountable?

November 13, 2026: The article examines how Pakistan's media regulators like PEMRA, PTA and NCCIA are overseen, and whether courts, parliament and legal safeguards ensure transparency and accountability.

Why do Pakistan's biggest media problems never go away?

November 12, 2026: JournalismPakistan's 17-year reporting archive reveals why unpaid salaries, newsroom layoffs and threats to journalists persist despite legal reforms and official action.

Pakistani journalist Haroon Janjua wins UNCA award

November 11, 2026: Pakistani journalist Haroon Janjua won the Elizabeth Neuffer Memorial Prize at the 2026 UNCA awards for his DW report on Afghan refugees facing deportation.

Why are media owners not held accountable for unpaid wages?

November 10, 2026: Although laws exist, media owners in Pakistan often delay salaries and face little enforcement, leaving journalists unpaid and accountability ineffective.

Pakistan Media Monitor | Edition 12 | October 27-November 9, 2026

November 09, 2026: Biweekly review of Pakistan media on legal pressure, journalist safety, unpaid wages, impunity findings, protests, PECA cases and employment uncertainty.

92 News host Rabia Ahsan shot dead at Rawalpindi home

November 08, 2026: 92 News host Rabia Ahsan was found shot dead at her Rawalpindi home on Nov 8, with police detaining her husband while forensic teams investigate.

AJK chief secretary's remarks raise press freedom concerns

November 06, 2026: A video of AJK chief secretary warning a Geo journalist not to publicise an exchange in Parliament has raised concerns about possible intimidation of the press.

Newsroom

The price of reporting: Prison, violence and intimidation

November 15, 2026 Reporters worldwide faced detention, violence, threats and economic pressures this week, exposing persistent dangers to press freedom.

Israeli forces detain journalist Mohammed Atiq in Burqin

November 15, 2026 Israeli forces detained journalist Mohammed Ali Atiq at his home in Burqin in the occupied West Bank, WAFA reported.

The newsroom traditions that quietly disappeared

November 15, 2026 From typewriters and teleprinters to newsroom camaraderie and mentoring, explore the traditions that quietly disappeared from Pakistan's newsrooms.

India offers no reason for Norwegian journalist's visa ban

November 14, 2026 India's foreign ministry called visas a sovereign function but gave no specific reason for journalist Helle Lyng's reported visa cancellation.

Are news websites losing their connection with readers?

November 14, 2026 News sites are losing direct connections as social platforms, search and AI divert traffic, putting audience loyalty and publishers' finances at risk.