ARY News channel’s license suspended for 15 days

Dawn.com Published October 20, 2014

ISLAMABAD: In compliance with an order of the Lahore High Court (LHC), the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) banned on Monday a local TV channel, ARY News for a period of 15 days and imposed a fine of Rs10 million for airing a derogatory programme against the judiciary.

A special meeting of Pemra was called in today to review the talk show anchored by Mubasher Lucman on the orders of LHC. Pemra officials found the show in contravention with the Pemra act and it’s code of conduct.

The regulatory authority had also banned Lucman and his programme “Khara Sach” on Saturday.

Earlier on Friday, the LHC issued bailable arrest warrants of ARY News chief executive officer Salman Iqbal, Mubashir Lucman, the programme’s producer and one Asim Malik for not appearing before the court despite having been summoned.

The court placed restrictions on airing of the show and participation of the anchor in any other TV programme.

It ordered inclusion of the name of Lucman in the Exit Control List (ECL) and summoned the attorney general, Punjab advocate general, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general and Lahore district coordination officer on Oct 21.

Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi issued the orders while hearing a suo motu notice against the respondents for airing an interview of Asim Malik, owner of a firm, Future Concern, in which serious allegations had been levelled against him.

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Syed

Oct 20, 2014 10:02pm

Democracy that Zar and Shar wants.

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abdul

Oct 20, 2014 10:03pm

Good work by Pemra..... All the state institutions must work unbiased.

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mosawwir

Oct 20, 2014 10:05pm

What a shame on our so called judiciary and justice system. If someone dares to speak truth, he is silenced in this way. His only fault was that he presented facts and exposed the extreme level of corruption of various politicians. Is this the justice our judiciary and institutions speak of?

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whatever

Oct 20, 2014 10:08pm

State against free media!

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DMDiL

Oct 20, 2014 10:19pm

hmmm, A positive step? yup, I think so.. Hope this will bring good reform for Ary News and other channels alike...

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Hasan

Oct 20, 2014 10:43pm

So much for freedom of speech!

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Itsqashi

Oct 20, 2014 10:48pm

Good decision. Media become a personal property any anchor can say what ever he think is right. It should not be like this. Pakistani media is full of biased people. PEMRA should strict their rule.

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Gaz

Oct 20, 2014 10:58pm

What a joke. Can you imagine Obama banning fox news?

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Last Moon

Oct 20, 2014 11:02pm

"A sorry state of affairs". Instead of logically proving their allegations wrong judiciary and government have resorted to vandalism. The judiciary does not take suo motto on various other issues faced by common people. The price hike and inflated electricity bills and new taxes have made life of common people miserable. In this information age how can one suppress the right of expression through these means.

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Ahmed

Oct 20, 2014 11:03pm

This reminds me, long ago in Zia's era a PTV programme called Hum Loog in which the host on streets and govt offices used to show the real face of people. That show was forcefully taken off. Those were the martial law days and such actions were the norm. Are present days different to the dictator's times? In democracy why judiciary cannot be questioned? Are they above the law?

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Akram

Oct 20, 2014 11:17pm

if the judiciary disputes the allegations, why not take the matter up in court? what is this banning absurdity? you cannot stop the truth getting out with the internet. This is 2014 not 1980.

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Ali

Oct 20, 2014 11:23pm

@Itsqashi any anchor can say anything they want? That might be true for people like Hamid Mir. Does Mubashar Luqman not show full evidence? Also, what happens to freedom of speech

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Khanm

Oct 20, 2014 11:25pm

Yet another step to silence the freedom of speech. You can silence the voice. But not our minds. It is a cheap stunt on belalf of LHC which is control by NS

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Vikas Rehman

Oct 20, 2014 11:28pm

This comes in response to some unproven (in a court of law that is) derogatory comments against the judiciary. Well, the programme Khara Sach has revealed financial scandals running into billions over the recent months. Whether these accusation are true or not, the anchor has challenged anyone who stands accused to appear in his programme and face the questions. I wonder what the govt or judiciary has done so far to investigate those accusations aired live on TV. Since many who were accused of money/property grabbing, I wonder if anyone from the judiciary has considered putting those in ECL? There were high hopes for the judiciary in Pakistan after IC was re-instated. But what everyone forgot was the judiciary also belongs to the elitist club and maintenance of the present status quo is in their interests. Otherwise their sons and daughters will have to compete against ordinary citizens to get lucrative public sector jobs or consultancy positions.

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Fatima

Oct 20, 2014 11:28pm

This is really sad the government is punishing media outlets that are exposing corruption and giving an unbiased view whereas they are going to all lengths to protect pro-government channel. No freedom of speech nor true democracy in Pakistan

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Just Someone

Oct 20, 2014 11:31pm

Considering that serious allegations were leveled by Asim Malik against Justice Mazhar, how is it possible that Justice Mazhar is both the aggrieved party and the judge in this case. What sort of a justice is this?

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Jawad

Oct 20, 2014 11:37pm

Shame on judiciary and judges. Government as we all know is shameless anyways. How long they think they can keep on doing this dictatorship like behavior ?

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Oct 20, 2014 11:37pm

@Gaz : Obama's action are not the word of god for everyone to follow. Is it?

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Jawad

Oct 20, 2014 11:39pm

Same judge is a party to allegations --- he gas issued the order------ clearly abuse of power in my view : may be not legally but morally for sure --- then again what morals ?

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Iqbal Bhai

Oct 20, 2014 11:46pm

Is that government's revenge against the ban of Geo? If yes, then Nawaz hasn't learnt his lesson

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Jawad U Rahman

Oct 21, 2014 12:16am

@Ali ARY set the trend and got consumed themselves. Had they stood for freedom of speech instead of trying to malign and shut down Geo when Geo was in this situation, perhaps today there would be some sympathy for ARY.

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Dilectus

Oct 21, 2014 12:26am

Shame on this democracy, shame on Sharif Courts !!!

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Kissa chahar Darwaish

Oct 21, 2014 12:26am

As you sow so shall you reap. They were warned of the consequences of what they were doing against other channel but they got carried away with the sway of the wind that was blowing. Now they must pay for playing dirty.

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Samia Tariq

Oct 21, 2014 12:48am

Excellent decision. This was the media groups personal poodle, hounding anyone who upset his masters. Luqman is not a journalist. There is a word for people who sell themselves for money. I hate that this was to be done. But he needed to be muzzled and his slander and lies stopped.

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BMan

Oct 21, 2014 01:00am

Can some one please cite the article of the constitution where insulting the Judiciary is a crime?

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PTI Workers United

Oct 21, 2014 01:08am

LIFAFA JOURNALISM BY ARY MUST END!

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sajid

Oct 21, 2014 01:08am

I am corrupt but if you call me corrupt, i will punish you. Our corrupt system is rotten to the core, no holds barred. Even judiciary.

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Oct 21, 2014 01:17am

What can you say?

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haider shaikh

Oct 21, 2014 01:21am

It's a move to further increase the TRP of ARY channel and make Mubashir Luqman hero.

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liaquatmmir@hotmail.com

Oct 21, 2014 01:32am

it is great effort of judiciay and Prema to teach lesson to media to abide by minimum professional ethics. If all institution of do their job properly there wouldn't be any vip culture and corruption. All should strength our institutions to do their jobs.

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Socrates

Oct 21, 2014 01:38am

This corrupt government has reduced all national institutes to tools for its thuggery. Our institutes now exist just to serve Sharif family.

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z khan

Oct 21, 2014 02:08am

Just for 15 days...must be atleast few months, these channels are not bigger than state institutions.Good decision anyway.

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common man

Oct 21, 2014 02:22am

At last Pemra wake up and do something although minor. It looks Pemra lives in Mars and do not watch Pakistani TV. Now Court orders and Pemra has to watch the Paksistani TV

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common man

Oct 21, 2014 02:25am

@Gaz Fox news does not attach American institutions. They air news in the best interest of their country.

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Abdullah

Oct 21, 2014 02:49am

ARY news is a professional news organization. If we all agree media has to be unbais then why was Lukman on IK container. Question is what was he telling IK we are with you and against the government. Was he even part of London scandal. Without superb media coverage IK is as good as dead meat. Media job is to show as it is so people can decide. Not decide and show one side so people can't decide. Look at AL Jazreeah how professional they are it's about news and only news no baqwas political accusations.

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Khan

Oct 21, 2014 03:01am

This should has been done earlier. It was over due. Pakistan do not need this type of channel. Great Decision

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sunny

Oct 21, 2014 03:06am

Not a good decision by PEMRA.We Pakistani people strongly condemn this biased act of Sharif government.

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Imran

Oct 21, 2014 03:07am

No Suo Moto Notice of Model toen killing and Killing infront of parliment in Dharna BUT yes sou moto notice for Media is hurting personally....???

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Babar

Oct 21, 2014 03:20am

I know this anchor. He is a master in making kharra jhot into kharra sach and these educated class believe him. You cannot fool all the people all time.

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Khalid

Oct 21, 2014 04:53am

When will we put a ban on PMLN?

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DarHaqiqat

Oct 21, 2014 04:57am

Extract from a comment made about 'freedom of Speech' on CNN by a man in Washington. "Freedom of speech ? Try walking up to a black man and calling him by the 'N.....' word", explains all. Freedom of any kind comes with equal responsibilities. If there was absolute freedom of speech then we wouldn't have libel and defamation laws.....even in the USA.Hence, all this is a myth.

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Syed Ahmed

Oct 21, 2014 04:59am

Shame, shame, shame on the judiciary and the judicial system.

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Syed Ahmed

Oct 21, 2014 05:02am

Dr. Thair ul Qadri, Imran Khan and their supporters will Inshallah sort out the corrupt elements soon.

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Hakim

Oct 21, 2014 05:05am

Zabardast! We all have to stop pretending and arguing with all the world and saying that we are a true democracy. This is a true Pakistan. Please remove all Mohamed Ali Jinnah's pictures and replace it with the perfect Pakistani face Zia Ul Haq and while you are on this task please change the country name ALBAKISTAN. New flag should be black saying anything in Arabic.

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Syed Ahmed

Oct 21, 2014 05:07am

@Babar People who talk against the program Khara Saach fall in the gray areas.

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Javeed

Oct 21, 2014 05:50am

I don't know why specifically they have banned ARY! ARY has been forefront in investigative journalism. In what sense does breaking news and saying truth come under biased reporting. In Pakistan everyone knows Zardari and Sharif families are corrupt, so how can a true journalist praise the corrupt loot. This is true monarchy! Strongly condemnable.

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Ahmed

Oct 21, 2014 05:52am

No body is above law. If any allegations have been leveled against court. The court must set up a commission to investigate the whole story. The judges must also be held accountable . It is bad to have suspended ARY News for 15 days. The contempt of court must be abolished as it was formed by British to suite them. We do not support this decision.

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Save pakistan

Oct 21, 2014 06:05am

I wonder there is no suo motu action against the well-known corruption cases of the politicians. In some cases, the judiciary gives a clean chit to the wrong-doers and legalize their corruption. Personally, I doubt the judiciary of Pakistan now.

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Javeed

Oct 21, 2014 06:15am

I wonder is the Sharif family for or against Pakistan! This govt is going to drown Pakistan.

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Mohammad Fareed

Oct 21, 2014 06:20am

Shame on the government and the champions of freedom of speech and human rights whose bias is now exposed.Where is Asma Jehangir ??????

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Babay

Oct 21, 2014 06:59am

Dictated script by Pemra to deprive the masses to witness true pictures of the national institutions .

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Nasir Mehmood

Oct 21, 2014 07:05am

Media must act with responsibility, but unfortunately we observe rubbish program in ARY channel against government and state institution, however banning of channel is not appreciated but those persons who are behind such derogatory acts must be given exemplary punishment, especially Mubashir Luqman and his company. Some opportunist people regard this step as controlling media because we have some private channels who are doing journalism instead of becoming party like AAJ Channel, WQT NEWS, DAWN NEWS etc. In case of GEO and ARY both are taking sides instead of objective analysis. ARY is so inclined to a certain party that every viewer understand it. If this trend is not controlled by media then people will leave watching TV Channels and again divert to foreign channels like BBC and CNN for objective and true new story.

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ali ahmed

Oct 21, 2014 07:36am

10 million for judiciary wow

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Z khan

Oct 21, 2014 08:00am

@Itsqashi so the media should only say what the government wants them to say?

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Z khan

Oct 21, 2014 08:01am

@Last Moon su motto is bad idea. That power should be removed.

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Joe FL

Oct 21, 2014 08:09am

@Itsqashi (Quoting you): "Good decision. Media become a personal property any anchor can say what ever he think is right. It should not be like this. Pakistani media is full of biased people. PEMRA should strict their rule." Wrong. Bad decision. If media becomes state controlled nobody can say whatever he thinks is right. Try Russia or China or North Korea for example. It should not be like that. Every democracy has many kinds of opinions, and so long as they do not call for violence they must be able to speak in the media without being thrown in jail. The judiciary has just become its own police.

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Tariq

Oct 21, 2014 08:24am

@sunny What Sharif has to do with this? always blame other party.. How sickened it is..

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aisha

Oct 21, 2014 08:50am

@Gaz . Obama will not ban fox because rest of the media will nail him. Here, when one channel gets banned, the remainder of the media channels celebrate. ARY did the same when Geo was blocked, not realizing that a bad precedent was being set against free speech. What goes around comes around I guess.

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salman

Oct 21, 2014 10:39am

A job well done. Luqman should have courage to bring his evidence in the court of law and fight his case. If he believes he is on the right side, then i do not see any problem. I mean you just cant play a video or blame someone and then start running away when state asks you to come and plead your grievance.

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Haseeb

Oct 21, 2014 11:20am

Very very good decision by high court. . .

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Haseeb

Oct 21, 2014 11:37am

Very very good decision by high court. . .

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Omar

Oct 21, 2014 01:01pm

They can suspend a program and bar a program but how can any governing body stop a person from appearing in any TV program?

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rehan

Oct 21, 2014 01:02pm

@Joe FL I respectfully disagree , Freedom is something that Media has never used properly anywhere. Media is the kind of monster than needs more and more "freedom" in the cut throat world of "Breaking News" world. Ethics and Morality take a backseat when the ultimate goal is "ratings" . Media considers itself free of all restrictions and criticism as it's only goal is to get inside more and more minds. It is scary really, the way Media has become one large, faceless monster that has no borders, no limits, no morality , no ethics and an unending hunger for "Freedom".

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rehan

Oct 21, 2014 01:08pm

These channels really need to be reigned in . Geo , particular, needs to be dealt with firmly .

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SYED HASSAN HASEEB

Oct 21, 2014 01:15pm

basically this is gen zia's team , they will do what he did . I think they have learnt one word democracy what is the meaning & what is system they don't know. "a word of truth will out the whole world" atleast ARY has done there duty we are with them.

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fizza

Oct 21, 2014 01:51pm

@Abdullah Someone has to get close to IK to get first hand news. It was happened to be ML. What is the problem with that?

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khanm

Oct 21, 2014 04:15pm

@abdul so should be our government...All I want is for people to listen to it with unbiased ears, and decide for themselves. I just don't want them to be dictated to by the media, or have preconceptions about it. If you like it, great. If you don't, fair enough.

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khanm

Oct 21, 2014 04:17pm

@mosawwir Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself my friend

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khanm

Oct 21, 2014 04:21pm

@whatever ...A free press can, of course, be good or bad, but, most certainly without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad.

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khanm

Oct 21, 2014 04:22pm

@DMDiL I tell you, in my opinion, the cornerstone of democracy is free press - that's the cornerstone.