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The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday issued another show cause notice to Bol News for usage of "inflammatory, indecent and irresponsible" language.
Pemra, in its notification, said that Bol’s anchor Aamir Liaquat in his programme which aired on January 26, 2017, used such derogatory words “which could not be repeated here”.
The notification added that usage of such a language is "a violation" of several clauses and rules of the Pemra Ordinance and its code of conduct.
The regulatory body directed the chief executive officer of the channel to submit a response by Febuary 7, 2017.
If the channel fails to defend itself, Pemra has the "powers to suspend the programme under section 27 of Pemra rules, impose a fine of up to one million rupees under section 29, suspend the license of the channel under section 30 or cancel the license of the channel under section 30".
Last week, Pemra had banned Amir Liaquat's programme on Bol News after he levelled allegations of blasphemy against civil society activists and bloggers.
A day later, Pemra issued another show cause notice to Bol News for flouting a ban on television personality Aamir Liaquat as the channel had opted to defy the ban.
The authority also issued a show cause notice to Bol News on Monday over the contents of a programme conducted by Dr Shahid Masood.
SC set aside contempt notices against Pemra chairman
Another Pemra release claimed that the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday set aside all the contempt notices to Chairman Pemra issued by the Sindh High Court and issued notices to the channel to appear before the apex court on Monday, Feb 6, 2017.
The release added that the orders were issued in an appeal filed by Pemra against an order of SHC which had granted a stay order against Pemra's order of prohibiting Aamir Liaquat as a host and his programme "Aisa Nahi Chalay Ga" from airing until a decision by the Councils of Complaints.
Pemra is determinant to face legal battle
Meanwhile, Pemra Chairman Absar Aalam chaired the 124th meeting of the authority and reiterated his determination to face legal challenges, being faced by Pemra, said a separate release.
The chairman also informed the meeting's attendees on the ban against Aamir Liaquat and his show on Bol News.
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On DawnNews
Comments (48) Closed
Jan 31, 2017 08:09pm
Why not make a new authority by the name BOL regulatory authority.
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Jan 31, 2017 08:09pm
PEMRA mustn't be politicized. And Amir Liaquat please do not hit below the belt. A decent moderation to some words can save the Amir Liaquat programme, and save both sides from litigation.
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Jan 31, 2017 08:36pm
@layman agreed
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Jan 31, 2017 08:36pm
@layman Its way past that. They got a warning from PEMRA and they continue to play with fire. Now Supreme Court is involved, only a miracle worker in the form of defense lawyer can save them.
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Jan 31, 2017 08:37pm
what is PEMRA chairman qualification, is he selected on merit. or doess he politically involved with PML N, he looks totally biased with BOL.
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Jan 31, 2017 08:47pm
Amir Liaqat is Pakistan hero.
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Jan 31, 2017 08:55pm
Do not suspend Bol TV. It has highest rating in Pakistan. Some thing is good about it???
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Jan 31, 2017 08:57pm
How can you close a program which has like 80,000 views per day on Youtube. Where is freedom of speech. To Amair Liaqat please select words carefully.
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Jan 31, 2017 09:09pm
@munir sajjad Absar Alam is himslef a senior journalist and you dont need to be a rocket scientist to ban abusive and dangerous language.
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Jan 31, 2017 09:11pm
PEMRA has crossed its limits.
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Jan 31, 2017 09:12pm
Musharraf brought free media, now Musharraf is gone and so is the media freedom.
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Jan 31, 2017 09:16pm
Are you ok? Amir Liaqat incites violence. he has done it before too.
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Jan 31, 2017 09:16pm
Is it Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority or Bol Regulatory Authority?
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Jan 31, 2017 09:22pm
No fan of Amir Liaqat andteh decision to ban his program may have been justified as well but why did they ban Shahid masood's program? On what grounds? The notifications says that he "handled sensitive information recklessly", what the hell is going on. he just alleged that Ishaq dar and Khwaja Asif met the Army chief in the GHQ. Regardless of weather the info is right of wrong, how does it make the information sensitive if the defence minister meets the army chief.
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Jan 31, 2017 09:19pm
@Hafeez, Canada - Are you serious? Do you want our youth to follow his footsteps for using derogatory language and inciting hatred in the society?
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Jan 31, 2017 09:29pm
@Ka :Oh I mean you saying this post given to Pemra chairman Afsar on the basis of PMLN worker not on qualification ? but looks on the recommendation of PM media cell. He is too favored in issuing notice to channel who are bringing govt mistake on board, and Afsar issuing notices.
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Jan 31, 2017 09:26pm
PEMRA is becoming a laughing stock
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Jan 31, 2017 09:46pm
@Hassan (Karachi) .... Exactly.
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Jan 31, 2017 09:53pm
@Hafeez, Canada yah, true
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Jan 31, 2017 09:53pm
@Hafeez, Canada that is exatly why Pakistan is where it is, because we make peolpe like him our heros
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Jan 31, 2017 10:04pm
@Hafeez, Canada ... ... America is divided politically and Pakistan is divided too. We all know that. The question is are we only born to wait to go paradise, or are we here on earth to do something more than this? If you go to Kashmir (or the Canadian Rocky Mountains) you can see the world God created. Some people cannot open their eyes to this. The Chinese believe that the beauty of nature, brings us harmony and peace in this world. What is happening here is constant arguments over what the population's duty is to God, and how people should line up like ten pin pins when someone pushes the religion button on the game show.
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Jan 31, 2017 10:09pm
The only good decision by Pemra under Afsar Alam. Banning Amir Liaqat show is the correct decision, this anchor/actor/joker should be banned by all TV channels in Pakistan. He has been spreading hate against minorities in Pakistan for years and the government just turned its eyes in the other direction.
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Jan 31, 2017 10:09pm
Govt is out to kill BOL again through PEMRA.
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Jan 31, 2017 10:19pm
PEMRA has been biggest hurdle, PEMRA does not want people to know the facts about Panama leak corruption, they only support channels on PML-N choice.
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Jan 31, 2017 10:20pm
@Hafeez, Canada: Once he was known for his very sweet and pleasant talks on TV shows. But, then suddenly his reality was flashed by an accidental airing of his behind the scene obnoxious talk during break. Rest is all history now.
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Jan 31, 2017 10:20pm
PEMRA learn from Trump. Do what has to be done right away rather than sending notices.
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Jan 31, 2017 10:23pm
@Mustafa R. .... Both sides have a point but there is such a thing as propriety. When you tear at each other you tear at the fabric of your society. Pakistan is crime ridden but people prefer to punish the innocent instead of the guilty.
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Jan 31, 2017 10:22pm
@azmat shah .... There are two very separate issues here.
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Jan 31, 2017 10:46pm
@FARHAN KERMANI so does geo channel. Whynot ban geo as well
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Jan 31, 2017 10:52pm
Pemra would like to ban shahid masood program aswell. Whynot ban everyone with a different opinion. We shall turn into N korea and praise the govt day n night
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Jan 31, 2017 11:07pm
State authority must be imposed at any cost. The BOL TV Channel should be taken off-air until the next order of PEMRA, which is a state regulatory authority. Mr. Aamir Liaquat, who is blamed to have hurled abusive language to some activists, must not be allowed to host any program till he gives assurance in writing to completely adhere to the PEMRA code of conduct.
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Jan 31, 2017 11:12pm
@Asma Ali If you are exposing the truth is not hate speech and estoppel, and do you understand the purpose of freedom of speech by the way dictatorship won't allow you to speak your mind and show or tell the people the truth .Well lady may be I presume the Pakistani mind set is to follow the dictator even though that dictator is a priapic Let the freedom of speech enkindle that is the way to progress the nation and advance their thinking . Don't be panic . Think smart live free.
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Jan 31, 2017 11:43pm
We don't need useless politicalized PEMRA.
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Jan 31, 2017 11:44pm
Amir Liaqat is a true patriot.
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Jan 31, 2017 11:49pm
Bol should be banned immediately as it's stand on falsehood fake and propaganda reporting
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Feb 01, 2017 12:18am
@azmat shah Shahid Masood's program has not been banned only notice has been issued to him. He'll have to prove his story. This type of action will stop others from telling fabricated stories in their programs.
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Feb 01, 2017 01:43am
Neither the government nor the BOL know their limits. If one carefully analyzes Bol and PEMRA it will be clear both are at fault. PEMRA has never set guidelines for the electronic media, in Pakistan laws are written vaguely giving rise to situation like we have at hand.
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Feb 01, 2017 03:30am
Pathetic response from the authorities - they should have zero tolerance for this . Amir and the mangement of Bol should be imprisoned
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Feb 01, 2017 05:48am
@FARHAN KERMANI That might be your opinion, not a fact. If a fact perhaps, PEMRA should give the man a fair trial before handing down the verdict.
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Feb 01, 2017 05:54am
@Asma Ali - Since when it has become Govt's job to raise our youth and teach them good IKHLAQIAT?
Right of free speech exists only for those tough times when we disagree over CHOICE OF WORDS.
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Feb 01, 2017 07:06am
how can a person who used to do religious programme can go that low that much that I am confuse:shall I take him seriously? or he will do anything to increase his popularity by saying without any due consideration whether he is right or wrong thus creating more chaos in a society
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Feb 01, 2017 08:07am
@layman but the program is called aisa nai chalay ga...they will have to change it to aisay hi chalao.
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Feb 01, 2017 08:21am
@layman I doubt it. Especially since the channel has openly ignored pemra, irrespective of the legal challenge, it has, in effect saying we don't recognize the authority of Pemra. It is in fact, inexplicable if a channel ignores governance authority so brazenly. I think, the courts should take cognizance of this deliberate attempt to break the regulatory system and should make an example out of bol TV.
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Feb 01, 2017 08:19am
@The end is near Seriously, Pemra has crossed it limits? or did you mean Mr Liyaqat did?
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Feb 01, 2017 08:45am
BOL TV needs to be taught a lesson.
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Feb 01, 2017 09:51am
Amir liaquat Patriotic voice is being curtailed to serve who?
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Feb 01, 2017 12:15pm
Amir will return strong.
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Feb 03, 2017 04:11am
Not a fan of amir liaqat but definitely against the so called liberals who are a disgrace for the country and Islam
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