It seems PEMRA want to strict the broadcasting conditions very tight in the running year. Since the start of 2017, many shows have been banned for some period, some TV channels even got banned for few days and recently the most popular morning show on Geo News, Geo Pakistan has been banned for five days and Rs. 1 million fines has been imposed as well.
According to the press release at this moment issued by the PEMRA, the competent authority banned the morning show because of airing indecent content. The ban is for five days and is for all type of airing of the show either it is repeated telecast, fresh episode or re-broadcasting.
PEMRA has imposed a ban of Rs. 1 million as well and the channel has been further directed to activate in-house editorial committee to ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct 2015 and use time delay mechanism effectively. In the case of non-compliance, a process for suspension of license, under Section 30 of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA Act 2007 shall be initiated.
After receiving some complaints from the citizens and senior journalists, a show cause notice was issued on March 15, 2017, to Geo News, asking them to explain their position within fourteen days. However, after providing the opportunity for personal hearing and examining the channel’s representatives’ reply, PEMRA conducted that by showing the objectionable content, Geo News has violated Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.
