Licence of ARY News suspended for 15 days

A fine of Rs10 million also imposed on the channel for airing a program against members of superior judiciary

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday suspended the licence of ARY News for 15 days and imposed a fine of Rs10 million on the channel for airing a program against members of the superior judiciary.

According to an official handout, the order was issued by Acting Pemra Chairman Pervaiz Rathore during the 100th meeting of the authority held in the federal capital on Monday. All field offices of Pemra have been directed to implement the decision with immediate effect.

Invoking Section 32 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by the Pemra (Amendment Act) 2007, the authority imposed a fine of Rs10 million on the licensee to be deposited before the expiry of the suspension period. If the fine is not paid within the given time, the channel shall not be allowed to resume its transmission and its licence shall remain suspended till such time the fine is paid, the authority said.

Moreover, the case of the licensee is also forwarded to the Council of Complaints under Section 30 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by the Pemra (Amendment Act), 2007.

According to the authority, the licensee was issued a show-cause notice on October 10, 2014 asking it to explain its position in writing with regard to aspersions cast against the superior judiciary in its program ‘Khara Sach’ aired on September 22, 23 and 24, 2014 within seven days as well as to appear for personal hearing on October 16, 2014.

However, neither the CEO nor any authorised representative of the licensee appeared before the personal hearing committee, therefore, ex-parte proceedings were conducted.  However, a written reply from the licensee in response to the show cause notice was received wherein, inter alia, all violations were denied and the jurisdiction of the authority was challenged.

The meeting also discussed the October 14, 2014 Lahore High Court order in which the court directed Pemra’s acting chairman to proceed against the licensee and ensure that the ‘Khara Sach’ program is not aired and that its host Mubashir Luqman does not appear on any TV channel.

The authority also examined and deliberated upon the transcripts of the episodes of ‘Khara  Sach’ program aired on ARY News on September 22, 23 and 24 with  special reference to aspersions cast against the judiciary keeping in view the  LHC orders and concluded that  ARY News has in absolute disregard to the Pemra laws  repeatedly been airing such programs wherein objectionable  and  contemptuous  remarks were cast against the members of the judiciary in violation of Section 20 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 read with Rule 15 of Pemra Rules 2009 and Clause  l(f),  (g) & (h) of Code of Conduct  provided  in Schedule  A of Pemra  Rules 2009.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2014.