The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs1 million on "Channel 24" for airing "baseless and unverified news report about Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sindh A.D. Khawaja".

Besides the fine (payable within three weeks), the channel was also directed to air an apology in this regard on May 20, 2017, in the same manner, and magnitude on the same time slot by specifically naming Khawaja.

"Tickers pertaining to apology shall be aired during the regular transmission of the channel," reads a statement issued by the regulatory authority.

Pemra had issued a show cause notice to the channel in connection with a complaint submitted by the IGP. The channel management was directed to appear for a personal hearing on April 18, 2017.

According to the Pemra statement, the channel requested to change the date and subsequently, the channel management was directed to appear before the authority on April 24, 2017, but the channel failed to submit a reply or produce its representative before Pemra officials on the said date.

The authority, after reviewing the complaint and relevant videos, found the channel guilty of violating various clauses of Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.