PEMRA notice to Geo News sparks debate on cultural coverage

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 13 April 2026 |  JP Staff Report

PEMRA issued a show-cause notice to Geo News after the channel aired Indian songs and film visuals while reporting Asha Bhosle's death, citing a Supreme Court directive restricting Indian content. Azhar Abbas said the coverage was a cultural retrospective.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s electronic media regulator has issued a show-cause notice to Geo News over its coverage of Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle, triggering fresh debate over editorial boundaries and cross-border cultural content.

The notice, issued by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), cited multiple broadcasts on April 12 in which Geo News aired songs and visuals from Indian films while reporting on Bhosle’s death. The regulator stated that the channel’s coverage amounted to a “willful defiance” of a Supreme Court ruling that restricts the airing of Indian content, referencing directives communicated to broadcasters in October 2018.

Managing director pushes back on cultural restrictions

In a public response, Azhar Abbas, Managing Director of Geo News and President of the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Editors (AEMEND), defended the editorial decision. Writing on X, Abbas said it has long been customary for media outlets to revisit and celebrate the work of iconic artists in obituaries or retrospective reporting.

He argued that artists such as Bhosle represent a shared cultural heritage that transcends borders, adding that limiting such content undermines the role of art in bridging divides. Abbas also noted Bhosle’s admiration for Noor Jehan and her collaborations with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, as well as her work with Urdu poetry.

PEMRA has issued a show-cause notice to Geo News for airing content related to the legendary subcontinent singer Asha Bhosle.
It has always been customary to revisit and celebrate the work of iconic artists when reporting on them. In fact, for an artist of Asha Bhosle’s stature,… pic.twitter.com/AuhFPyGZCL

— Azhar Abbas (@AzharAbbas3) April 13, 2026

Regulatory stance and legal backdrop

PEMRA, however, maintained that its action is rooted in compliance with existing legal directives. The regulator’s notice emphasized that the airing of Indian content has been prohibited under a Supreme Court judgment, and that all licensees were formally notified of the restriction.

The development highlights the ongoing tension between regulatory compliance and editorial discretion, particularly in coverage involving cross-border cultural figures. While broadcasters often treat the deaths of prominent artists as global cultural moments, regulatory frameworks in Pakistan impose specific limits that complicate such coverage.

The issue also raises broader questions about how Pakistani media navigates reporting on international cultural icons in a politically sensitive environment, especially during periods of heightened bilateral tensions.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The incident underscores the constraints Pakistani newsrooms face when covering international cultural figures, even in standard obituary reporting. It highlights the need for clearer editorial guidelines that balance legal compliance with journalistic practice, particularly in culturally significant coverage that audiences expect.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on publicly available statements by Azhar Abbas on X (April 13, 2026) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority notice issued April 12, 2026.