Aamir Liaquat Hussain. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Thursday banned with immediate effect anchorman Aamir Liaquat’s programme ‘Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga’ on Bol News TV channel for delivering hate speech.
According to the order conveyed to the channel’s management, “Aamir Liaquat shall not host any programme, or appear on TV in any manner (fresh, old or repeat) including (but not limited to) as a guest, analyst, reporter, actor, in audio, video beeper, promo/advertisement of his programme or in person, in any manner whatsoever, on Bol News screen with immediate effect.” The authority warned that if the management of Bol News failed to comply with the order, it would suspend the licence of the channel as well.
Condemnation: CPNE welcomes ban on Amir Liaquat
“Aamir Liaquat is prohibited from delivering, on all other channels, any hate speech, declaring anyone as ‘kaafir’ or ‘ghaddar’, as under the Constitution of Pakistan, it is the exclusive jurisdiction of parliament or the honourable Superior Judiciary,” Pemra added in a statement.
Meanwhile, Rawalpindi police registered an FIR against Amir and the top management of Bol News.
The FIR, registered on complaint of activist Jibran Nasir, charged Amir, Bol CEO Shoaib Sheikh, Senior Executive Vice-President Amir Zia, Bureau Chief Faysal Aziz Khan and various others with “criminal intimidation, insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, acts of terrorism, inciting hatred, and creating civil commotion” under the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
PBA condemns Amir Liaquat, Bol
The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) on Thursday also condemned the hate-speech and incitement to violence by Axact’s TV channel Bol and its host Amir Liaquat against leading journalists, civil society activists and members of the PBA.
Jibran Nasir moves PEMRA against Amir Liaquat over blasphemy allegations
“PBA condemns all forms of hate speech and stands by civil society and journalists,” a PBA statement noted. “PBA encourages the government, Pemra, law enforcement authorities and judiciary to play their legal role in protecting those victims and prosecuting those who use it as a weapon for their own vested interest.” The association pointed out that Axact is already being prosecuted for running a worldwide fake degree scam.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2017.
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