Pemra slaps Rs1mn fine on Geo News for programme deemed 'highly seditious and scandalous'
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The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday slapped a fine of Rs1 million on Geo News for airing a "highly seditious and scandalous programme against National Accountability Bureau Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal and maligning state institutions".
According to Pemra, anchorperson Shahzaib Khanzada in his programme "Aaj Shahzaib Khanzada Kay Sath," on July 18, discussed the matter of a scandalous video targeting the NAB chairman unilaterally, without taking into account the point of view of NAB.
The electronic media regulatory body in a statement said that Geo News, by airing the content, violated the "Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015 and orders of the Supreme Court".
"Geo News, in its reply and arguments made by its representative during the personal hearing, failed to defend the allegations leveled in the show cause [sent to the channel]," read the statement.
The media regulator also warned the channel that in case of non compliance and repeated violation, strict legal action will be taken, which may result in suspension of license given to Geo News.
Pemra also directed Geo News to constitute an in-house editorial committee to vet the content before airing.
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On DawnNews
Comments (42) Closed
Aug 06, 2019 11:25pm
Rs. 1 million ?
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Aug 06, 2019 11:28pm
sach ki umang sirf tab jagti hai jab apne dil ko thes lage.
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Aug 06, 2019 11:30pm
They think everything is ok under freedom of speech.
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Aug 06, 2019 11:32pm
RIP freedom of speech! Anybody criticizing govt gets arrested or reprimanded!!
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Aug 06, 2019 11:36pm
Censorship.
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Aug 06, 2019 11:39pm
Maligning state institutions!!!!! This is how media is harassed in Pakistan. Why can't anyone criticize state institutions? Are we not a democracy and should we not have freedom of press?
Instead of being so sensitive about everything, they should accept criticism and use it to get better.
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Aug 06, 2019 11:41pm
How could it be any news if it is required to be ratified first by the person subject of the news?
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Aug 06, 2019 11:42pm
End of democracy in pak
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Aug 06, 2019 11:43pm
FREE press you say?
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Aug 06, 2019 11:46pm
It is known to all in Pakistan that after state PTV, ARY a private TV channel has left behind the PTV in projecting the narrative of PTI government.
Geo is the largest viewed private TV channel which is graded as anti-state TV channel in the country though this is not the case.
If any TV channel reports the facts and figures correctly and that is crossed checked by the people through various means that particular channel becomes popular among the masses.
It is not practically possible for Pempra to cancel licenses of all private TV channels and let PTV and ARY to remain on air.
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Aug 06, 2019 11:54pm
I think GEO should come to me if they really need evidence on National Accountability Bureau Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal. He's the most innocent person in the planet. Wait till his case blows up.
Farhan
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Aug 06, 2019 11:56pm
This is called as media freedom
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Aug 07, 2019 12:00am
There were two claims made by our PM during the successful visit of USA
1. USA is ready to mediate Kashmir issue so Kashmir lost its left sovereignty and USA said it is India internal matter
2. Our media is totally free ...... Even I leave rest to readers that in a country where sitting PM his ailing wife and his all family was constantly humiliated just few a year ago suddenly became so sensitive ......
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Aug 07, 2019 12:04am
We are well on our way to fascism.... One slap at a time.
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Aug 07, 2019 12:04am
Where we are going with this one? One should be wise enough not to slam people with scandalous news punches where as, on the other hand, government should cut them some slack as it's not some kingdom of a king. We have UK, USA and Australia where media even call leaders as "idiot" and more often "clown" when it comes to Mr. Trump and here we are defending sanctity of a state institution which is apparently for people.
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Aug 07, 2019 12:15am
1 million only?
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Aug 07, 2019 12:16am
Just 1 million??
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Aug 07, 2019 12:17am
I strongly protest this political vendetta and media censorship ploy against a TV channel that is doing a good and balanced job at this dark time. The program mentioned was not seditious at all. It was a reasonable commentary .
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Aug 07, 2019 12:23am
@Omer, misuse of freedom of speech...
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Aug 07, 2019 12:36am
Was the video not a reality? GEO and the media had the journalistic responsibility to report it in the public interest. The video exposed the character of the man who is appointed as the chairman of the NAB. After such exposure, the man should have resigned or should have been fired. But NO, the man is still there and the media is being fined for reporting the truth. Where is the justice in this PEMRA decision?
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Aug 07, 2019 12:43am
IK govt showing its true fascist colours.
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Aug 07, 2019 12:55am
was the audio / video false . if so NAB chairman should file for that in court . he is an ex judge . why use PEMRA stick to beat Journalists who are doing the job informing people of what is happening in the country
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Aug 07, 2019 01:06am
I am not impressed.
#JustWasif
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Aug 07, 2019 01:06am
@Parvez, Pemra can not charge more according to their regulations. If they charge more, the Opposotion will say it is politucal victimisation.
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Aug 07, 2019 01:13am
It's not about Freedom of speech or Freedom of Media its about the kind of content being shared with the public. MEDIA is the only platform globally that demonstrates the mindset of the society. MEDIA should check the airing of every content by looking at the quality of the content as well as the background of the content with some evidences to prove that whatever they are showing the public is true and else not base on just for the time being created rated content. MEDIA should be a source of information based on truth and neutral approach not just a viewership content. Bring quality content with basic facts and figures to create a responsible, aware and mannered society which Pakistan direly needs today.
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Aug 07, 2019 01:30am
This is arm twisting. Free media important for country. I find Mariam NS news on Dawn only.
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Aug 07, 2019 01:37am
Censorship in its true vibrant colors.
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Aug 07, 2019 01:40am
Crooks and sacred cows are protected under Pemra rules?
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Aug 07, 2019 02:00am
Yeah please only air content the govt agrees with.
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Aug 07, 2019 02:06am
1 Million is peanuts, PEMRA should slap GEO TV with minimum 10 Million penalty.
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Aug 07, 2019 02:07am
@Omer, this was not criticism of the government but of a PMLN appointed NAB chairman.
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Aug 07, 2019 02:10am
GEO News license should have been suspended long time ago, don't know what are they waiting for?
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Aug 07, 2019 02:39am
1 billion should be better.
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Aug 07, 2019 02:45am
Should be 100 million next time...
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Aug 07, 2019 02:56am
Geo cant stomach that Nawaz is no more. Plain and simple.
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Aug 07, 2019 04:04am
Media is state institution too!
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Aug 07, 2019 04:10am
Should have slapped with 30 days of ban with additional warning of permanent banned if repeated.
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Aug 07, 2019 04:57am
@Imran , Yes. Thats the idea of "Freedom Of Speech". Say what you want, whether you like it or not.
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Aug 07, 2019 05:12am
I applaud the "freedom" of press in Pakistan. Or shall we call it the freedom to oppress.
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Aug 07, 2019 05:13am
Good action taken by pemra. We appreciate pemra authorities
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Aug 07, 2019 07:10am
A person whos scandalous vedio came on line and the media cannot highlight it , i thing we are under democratic govt.
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Aug 07, 2019 11:58am
This reminds us of Chairman NAB's video scandal. Has any action been taken?
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