The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday issued a notification ruling against Aamir Liaquat, the host of Bol News TV show 'Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga', directing him to apologise on air to the viewers.

Liaquat had come under fire on social media when he went on air in his show on Jan 27 and levelled allegations of blasphemy against civil society activists and bloggers who had 'disappeared'. The regulatory authority had then taken action against the channel and the host by placing a ban on it.

Read more: 'Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga': Pemra slaps ban on Amir Liaquat after 'hate speech' on Bol News

However, a few weeks into the case, the Supreme Court had allowed Liaquat to continue hosting the show on the condition that the content aired will be devoid of hate speech.

It had further directed the controversial host to submit a reply, based on which the regulatory authority was to issue a decision.

Pemra, in its latest decision, directed the channel as well as Liaquat to apologise "unconditionally to the viewers" by "specifically naming all individual complainants against whom hate speech was aired".

The regulatory authority further directed both Bol News and the host to apologise separately and air it on or before March 31.

The channel was further directed to ensure that text is "scrolled/displayed on the screen during the entire programme" while Liaquat apologises to the viewers.

Pemra warned that non-compliance to the decision by Liaquat or the channel in "any manner" will result in the programme as well the host being banned from appearing on Bol TV. The ban, in that case, will go in effect April 1.

In addition, the authority imposed a fine of Rs1 million on the channel that must be paid within 15 days of issuance of this decision.

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