ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s media regulator on Saturday upheld the 15-day suspension of a leading news channel, imposed a fine of Rs10 million ($35,800) on the broadcaster and ordered it to dismiss employees responsible for a controversial Muharram transmission that authorities said contained religiously sensitive content.
The decision marks the conclusion of regulatory proceedings launched after the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) suspended Geo News on June 27 after a special Muharram program aired a day earlier.
PEMRA said the transmission included “religious visualization” capable of hurting people’s sentiments, undermining religious harmony and disturbing public order.
The channel subsequently issued an unconditional public apology, dismissed employees involved in producing the program and introduced additional editorial safeguards.
“The Order dated 27 June 2026 suspending the license of Geo News for fifteen (15) days is affirmed,” PEMRA said in its decision.
“A fine of Rupees Ten Million (Rs. 10,000,000) is imposed upon the licensee,” it added. “Transmission may resume only upon completion of the suspension period and payment of the fine.”
The regulator said it had taken into account the broadcaster’s admission of negligence, expression of remorse and unconditional public apology but concluded that those factors, while mitigating, did not erase the violation or its legal consequences.
It also directed Geo News to terminate those responsible for the broadcast, adding that individuals dismissed over the violation would, subject to applicable law, be ineligible for future employment, engagement or association with any service licensed or regulated by the authority.
PEMRA further ordered the broadcaster to submit an affidavit confirming compliance with its directions and warned that any repeat violation could result in enhanced penalties, suspension or revocation of its license.
The decision also instructed all licensed broadcasters to establish impartial in-house monitoring committees or editorial boards, notify the regulator of their composition and ensure prior editorial scrutiny of every broadcast.
Geo News said the material broadcast during the Muharram transmission had been aired in error and depicted rituals practiced by some people in Iraq and the Middle East rather than endorsing any particular religious belief.
