The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has suspended the licence of Geo News for 15 days, citing an 'unacceptable religious depiction' in its Muharram programme Safar-e-Ishq. The regulatory body stated that the broadcast contained religious imagery inconsistent with the country's religious, social, and cultural values, and has referred the matter to its Complaints Council for further proceedings.
Official Response and Ministerial Remarks
Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar emphasized that religious matters require utmost caution and warned against dramatized depictions of religious events. He stated, 'Religious matters require utmost caution and dramatized depictions of religious events are unacceptable.' The minister's remarks underscore the government's stance on maintaining respect for religious sentiments in media content.
Geo News Apologizes and Takes Action
In response to the suspension, Geo News issued an apology for the broadcast and removed the controversial content from its platforms. The channel also confirmed that disciplinary action had been initiated against those responsible for the programme. This move aims to address the regulatory concerns and prevent future violations.
