PEMRA slaps 5-day ban on 'Geo Pakistan' for airing ‘objectionable content’

Geo News has also been given a Rs1 million fine

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) handed on Friday Geo News a Rs1 million fine and also put a five-day ban on its morning show 'Geo Pakistan' for "airing objectionable/indecent content".

"Geo Pakistan is banned from broadcasting, re-broadcasting, fresh, old or repeat content on Geo News from 9am Monday 3rd April till 12am April 7th 2017," stated a statement issued by the media regulatory authority.



The show was banned following a number of complaints from citizens and senior journalists, it added. A show cause notice was also issued to the channel on 15 March 2017 asking them to explain their position.

قابلِ اعتراض مناظر دکھانے پر جیو نیوز کا مارننگ شو "جیو پاکستان" پانچ روز کیلئے معطل، چینل پر دس لاکھ روپے جرمانہ بھی عائد pic.twitter.com/sqMSmxO9C6

— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) March 30, 2017

Given a chance of personal hearing and evaluating Geo News's response, Pemra concluded the channel violated Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.

"In case of non-compliance, a process for suspension of licence, under Section 30 of Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007 shall be initiated", said the statement.

The move came after the regulatory body took the decision of banning TV anchor Amir Liaquat for hate speech and derogatory remarks on Bol News. He was then asked to "apologise unconditionally to the viewers for airing the hate-speech”