Pakistan imposes temporary ban on 2 channels

Pakistan has temporarily banned two private television channels, including one of the Geo TV network, and imposed a hefty fine of Rs 10 million on them for airing blasphemous content and ridiculing the judiciary.

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) suspended the licences of Geo Entertainment for 30 days and ARY News for 15 days for overstepping the laws of the state regulator.

Geo Entertainment was ordered to be taken off air for insulting the religious sentiments of viewers when it played a religious song at the mock wedding of actress Veena Malik in one of its morning shows.

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ARY News was banned for brining the higher courts to disrepute through its criticism by airing anti—judiciary programmes.

PEMRA also banned ARY ’s anchorman Mubashir Lucman and his talk show Khara Sach for criticising the judiciary.