ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued a show cause notice to Geo Entertainment channel for airing inappropriate content including ‘suicide scenes’ during its programme and has ordered the channel to explain its position before the authority on June 21.

According to the Pemra notification, Geo TV’s anchor Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain in his June 13 programme showed scenes “of a girl committing suicide”. The body called for an explanation from Geo TV and questioned "why it should not ban the programme Inaam Ghar".

In the notification it is said that showing suicide scenes and dramatising the act has been completely banned by the authority.

The media organisation could face a fine of Rs one million for not abiding by the Pemra regulations.

Pemra notification reads that during the said programme the guest were asked to do inappropriate acts and were provoked to express anger in Punjabi language, upon which a guest used abusive language which got aired as well.

It was notified that due to the unprofessional and amateurish behaviour of Dr Amir Liaquat abusive words got aired, after which many complaints were received by Pemra.

It was further said that many serving army officers have registered complaints with the authority saying that Dr Amir Liaquat has misused Pakistan’s flag and military uniform in his show’s promo for gaining commercial benefits.

On Saturday, Pemra sent a notice to NewsOne for airing a heated verbal exchange – including censored words/phrases – between JUI-F Senator Hafiz Hamdullah and female analyst Marvi Sirmed on June 10.

The body called for, "an explanation defending the decision to air the exchange," by June 17, or the the news organisation could face a fine of Rs one million or cancellation of the talk show.

“The threats and insults were deliberately allowed to escalate to the point that Hafiz Hamdullah may have physically attacked Marvi Sirmed had another guest not intervened,” said Pemra in its notice.

Opinion

Editorial

Cohesive response
Updated 14 Mar, 2025

Cohesive response

Solely militarised response has failed to deliver, counterterrorism efforts must be complemented by political outreach in Balochistan.
Agriculture tax
14 Mar, 2025

Agriculture tax

THE changes in the provincial agriculture income tax laws aimed at aligning their rates with the federal corporate...
Closing the gap
14 Mar, 2025

Closing the gap

PAKISTAN continues to struggle with gender inequality in its labour market. A new report by the ILO shows just how...
Shocking ambush
Updated 13 Mar, 2025

Shocking ambush

The sophistication of attack indicates that separatists likely had support from experienced external players.
Suffocating crisis
13 Mar, 2025

Suffocating crisis

THREE of the five countries with the most polluted air on Earth are in South Asia. They include Pakistan, which has...
Captive grid
13 Mar, 2025

Captive grid

IT is a common practice: the government makes commitments with global lenders for their money and then tries to...