Pemra issues notice to TV channel over remarks against PM

E-Paper | October 09, 2026

Pemra issues notice to TV channel over remarks against PM

Kalbe Ali Published March 25, 2017

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued three show cause notices, including one to ARY News channel over comments on a statement by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Friday.

The regulator took exception to remarks made by Shahid Latif, a guest on an ARY News programme, that termed a recent statement by the prime minister blasphemous.

Shahid Latif made the remarks during the programme, ‘The Reporters’, which aired on Thursday (March 23).

“This is a very dangerous trend. The hosts of the programme did not intervene on this occasion nor stopped him from passing such comments, which is a violation of Pemra rules,” the authority said in a press release.

The press release added: “This has been conveyed to the TV channel that airing any offensive, provocative or derogatory remarks falls in clear violation of clause 20 (f) of PEMRA Act 2007, rule 15(1) of 2009 and various sections and clauses of the PEMRA Code of Conduct 2015.”

The regulator directed ARY News to submit its reply by March 31 and explain why action should not be taken against it for airing “hate speech”.

Pemra pointed out that if the channel was found guilty, the action against it could include banning of ‘The Reporters’, cancellation of ARY’s operating licence and a fine of Rs1 million.

The electronic media regulator also issued show cause notices to nine TV channels — Ab Tak TV, Waqt TV, Channel 5, Sach TV, 7 News, Aaj TV, Roze TV, News One and Capital TV — for airing “fake news” on Wednesday (March 22)that a plane had crashed in Kallar Syedan, near Rawalpindi.

The channels have been directed to submit a reply by March 31.

The penalty for airing fake news includes a fine of up to Rs1 million and cancellation of the operating licence.

Pemra issued a show cause notice to DawnNews for not complying with its orders of suspending Zara Hat Kay for three days.

The charge against the channel was that the presenters of Zara Hut Kay discussed a reference against Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which is pending before the Supreme Judicial Council, in an episode aired on March 9.

On the other hand, an official of DawnNews said the channel had already obtained a stay order from the Sindh High Court against the show cause notice.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2017

Newspaper

Kalbe Ali is a senior staff reporter for Dawn based in Islamabad, with nearly 20 years of field reporting experience. He covers a diverse range of topics, including the internet, IT and telecom sectors, as well as religious affairs.

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Muneer

Mar 25, 2017 08:56am

PMLN and its puppets are gagging free expression.

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paggri sambhal

Mar 25, 2017 09:08am

I m no fan of NS but these channels are crossing their limits.

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mangoman

Mar 25, 2017 09:14am

In my humble opinion, blasphemy charges against anyone on air should be banned.

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meer

Mar 25, 2017 09:11am

@paggri sambhal...Do our politicians have any limits while doing all the corruptions?

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asad lateef

Mar 25, 2017 09:24am

taking stay order and that from sindh high court?

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mUHAMMAD zAFAR iQBAL

Mar 25, 2017 09:56am

these irresponsible media channels must be punished for mongering hate and airing of baseless news.

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Ali

Mar 25, 2017 09:59am

These channels are capitalising on the public sentiments. This trends needs to be ruthlessly curbed.

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Sameer

Mar 25, 2017 10:00am

Has anyone seen Stephen Colbert or Trevor Noah grill the presidents that too on national television? The language they use is unbelievable when it comes to criticise. But in Pakistan its hush hush, no criticism otherwise you are endangering "democracy."If you want to have strong democracies like the US, than start acting like one...not this kleptocracy.

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Kamran

Mar 25, 2017 10:01am

PMLN even make musharraf seem nice.

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Nowsherwi

Mar 25, 2017 10:02am

If this goes on there will be no more channels left but PTV

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abdul

Mar 25, 2017 10:19am

Coward. This Is how to use official post for personal benefits.

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Inquiring MiND

Mar 25, 2017 10:48am

Ok, I just went to net and listened to the program. I do not agree with him at all. NS statement in the holi function in Karachi does not fall in the category of blasphemy. BUT, the action of PEMRA is completely uncalled for.

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Alba

Mar 25, 2017 10:51am

@mangoman .... This is trial by TV media.

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Mar 25, 2017 10:50am

Ban PEMRA!

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Alba

Mar 25, 2017 10:51am

@Ali .... Capitalizing on uneducated people's need for gossip, innuendo and sensationalism. TV gives them their fix. When someone is pilloried they can enjoy the punishment and sleep better at night.

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m rafique

Mar 25, 2017 11:48am

Justifying highest salary ever in history that too having at lower educational scale

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Zohaib manzoor dall

Mar 25, 2017 11:57am

Government of Pakistan only try to shift burden to the private sector, if it possible that such news was shared by someone government official so what! Government is in a very poor condition.

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Mozaffar Ahmad

Mar 25, 2017 11:59am

There must be a limit to free expression. The standard of the media has generally deteriorated as it cares less for the authenticity of the information. Many rumours and gossips are being circulated as if they are the truth without any sense of its dangerous and negative effects upon the society. Media must not be biased in any way and mind her language. It must differentiate between obscenity, vulgarity on one handand decency on the other. In the name of the so called truth don't try to unclad every thing and thrill the society. Personall, ever since I have abandoned watching Pakistani tv news channels, I feel much less stressed and healthier.

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Fareed Khan

Mar 25, 2017 12:14pm

These so-called analysts have become religious scholars too and issue fatwas publicly on national tv. They must be banned appearing on any of tv programs.

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haider shaikh

Mar 25, 2017 12:59pm

The elite is above the law.

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Rohail

Mar 25, 2017 01:00pm

I watched that program and it was mentioned that PM used wrong choices of words. PM himself is at important position and should be very careful when using words. PM was excited and he should be surprised when realized what he had stated. It was a shame when Islamic scholars didn't say anything about his statement.

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Shuja

Mar 25, 2017 01:17pm

PEMRA itself is a dishonest and corrupt regulatory body. It should be banished.

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Nazir.

Mar 25, 2017 01:28pm

Can someone, anyone, more knowledgeable than me, and who heard the prime ministers speech, on the occasion of Holi celebrations, by our Hindu brethren, kindly define the speech? The language used by our honorable prime minister, and the comparisons made by him, quite frankly had me baffled. Can someone please help me out here?

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M.Saeed

Mar 25, 2017 01:51pm

It appears almost all channels are testing the strength of PEMRA by violating its orders. Clearly, they are acting to sensationalise news to gain their own ratings, irrespective of the negative effects caused to the minds of unsuspecting ordinary people.

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Abdullah Khan

Mar 25, 2017 01:56pm

Issue a notice to everyone who is calling a spade a spade.

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Safdar

Mar 25, 2017 02:10pm

News Channels should not cross their limits and should not allow anyone to put the tag of blasphamy

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Safdar

Mar 25, 2017 02:09pm

News Channels should not cross their limits and should not allow anyone to put the tag of blasphamy

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Usman

Mar 25, 2017 02:11pm

@Sameer I think you have not happen to see plethora of comedy-cum-political shows which has ridiculed almost all politicians since ages now (from /hum Sab Umeed sy hain ... to /KhabarXXXX and plenty others). As they say , research before you comment.

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ShahiD Manzoor

Mar 25, 2017 03:38pm

What a difference, military dictator allowed these channels and a democratic government is trying to gag them, ???

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Keenobserver

Mar 25, 2017 04:42pm

All these bans and fines will be more palatable , if these institutions become independent.

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Saif zulfiqar

Mar 25, 2017 05:15pm

All the TV stations of ARY have been closed down in UK by the authorities for failing to respect the court orders.

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JKhan

Mar 25, 2017 06:14pm

@paggri sambhal this is from the infamous media cell of Islamabad.

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