PEMRA suspends BOL licenses

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 16 September 2015

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has suspended BOL News and BOL Entertainment licenses. This decision follows recommendations from the Council of Complaints and ongoing investigations into fraud allegations against Axact.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Wednesday suspended licenses of BOL News and BOL Entertainment.

A PEMRA announcement said the decision to suspend BOL TV Network’s licenses was taken during the authority’s 106th meeting. It said the Council of Complaints had recommended suspension of the licenses following its meeting held on August 18.

Last month ARY Television bought 45 percent shares of BOL News and had announced plans to launch the channel on September 6. Independently BOL was to be launched on first of Ramadan but could not hit the airwaves after a story published in The New York Times accused Axact, parent company of BOL, of selling fake diplomas to students. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is investigating alleged charges of fraud against Axact and BOL chief executive Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh.

KEY POINTS:

• PEMRA suspended BOL News and BOL Entertainment licenses.
• Suspension followed a Council of Complaints recommendation.
• Investigations are ongoing regarding Axact's alleged fraud.
• ARY Television recently purchased 45% shares of BOL News.
• BOL faced delays in launching amid accusations of selling fake diplomas.