Pakistan’s Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Saturday suspended the transmission of Geo News for 15 days with immediate effect, saying that a special programme aired on the 10th of Muharram contained content that could hurt the religious sentiments of viewers.
In an order issued on June 28 to the Chief Executive Officer of Independent Media Corporation (IMC), PEMRA stated that Geo News’ broadcasting licence had been suspended for 15 days under Section 30 of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002. According to the regulator, its monitoring wing found the programme to be a serious regulatory concern due to its religious, cultural, and social sensitivities.
PEMRA said the broadcast violated the broadcaster’s obligations under Sections 20(b), (c), (d), and (f) of the PEMRA Ordinance. Section 20(b) requires broadcasters to uphold national, cultural, social, and religious values, as well as the principles of public policy enshrined in Pakistan’s Constitution. Section 20(c) prohibits programmes or advertisements that promote religious discrimination, sectarianism, or other prohibited content.
The regulator also stated that the programme was inconsistent with its June 15 directive concerning the observance of the sanctity of Muharram. It ordered Geo News to remain off air on satellite and across all distribution networks and platforms during the suspension period and instructed all distribution service operators to implement the order immediately.
PEMRA has referred the matter to its Council of Complaints for examination, hearings, and recommendations, including the possibility of further regulatory action if warranted.
The authority also directed Geo News to conduct an internal inquiry into what it described as editorial, monitoring, and compliance failures that led to the broadcast, and to submit its findings, along with corrective and preventive measures, to the Council of Complaints.
Geo News later issued a clarification and apology, stating that the footage aired during its 10th Muharram programme Safar-e-Ishq did not reflect the channel’s editorial position or its policy of respecting the widely accepted beliefs and religious sensitivities of the Muslim Ummah.
The broadcaster explained that the programme showed certain rituals practiced by a limited number of people in Iraq and some other Middle Eastern countries. It said the footage was intended only to depict local customs and was not meant to represent, endorse, or promote any broader religious viewpoint. Geo News also stressed that the footage had not been produced by the channel and that its broadcast was not intentional.
The channel added that the content was removed immediately after the issue came to its attention, disciplinary action was taken against those responsible, and clarifications and an apology were broadcast before public reaction intensified.
In its statement, Geo News said:
“This content depicted certain rituals adopted by a limited number of people in Iraq and some other Middle Eastern countries. Its purpose was merely to reflect these local customs and not to represent, endorse, or promote any broader religious point of view. The content was neither produced by Geo News nor aired with any deliberate intent. Geo News remains firmly committed to respecting the widely accepted beliefs and sensitivities of the Muslim Ummah. The inclusion of this content does not reflect our editorial position or the organisation’s values. The relevant material was removed immediately, appropriate action was taken against those responsible, and clarifications and an apology were broadcast before public reaction emerged. We regret any distress caused and reaffirm our commitment to upholding the highest standards of religious respect.”