Summary
- Geo News’ transmission resumed on Sunday after the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued its final written verdict regarding the broadcaster’s 15-day suspension.
- In its final verdict, Pemra acknowledged the broadcaster’s admission of negligence, expression of remorse, and the unconditional public apologies aired across all media platforms.
- The broadcaster has been directed to terminate the personnel responsible for the oversight, and Pemra ruled that those dismissed will remain legally ineligible for re-employment at any media network regulated by the authority.
Geo News’ transmission resumed on Sunday after the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued its final written verdict regarding the broadcaster’s 15-day suspension. In the official order dated July 11, the regulatory body upheld its initial June 27 decision to temporarily suspend the channel’s licence and imposed a fine of Rs10 million. Transmission was allowed to resume only after the broadcaster completed the designated suspension period and cleared the financial penalty.
The regulatory dispute stemmed from the broadcast of religiously sensitive visual depictions aired on June 26 in the programme Safar-e-Ishq during Geo News’ 10th Muharram transmission. Following the broadcast, the matter was referred to the Council of Complaints in Lahore, which examined the records and gathered input from the Council of Islamic Ideology over multiple meetings before submitting formal recommendations to Pemra.
In its final verdict, Pemra acknowledged the broadcaster’s admission of negligence, expression of remorse, and the unconditional public apologies aired across all media platforms. The authority noted that whilst these factors served as mitigating circumstances, they did not erase the legal consequences of the violation. The broadcaster has been directed to terminate the personnel responsible for the oversight, and Pemra ruled that those dismissed will remain legally ineligible for re-employment at any media network regulated by the authority.
Furthermore, Geo News must submit an affidavit confirming compliance with these directions and undertaking strict adherence to guidelines in the future, with the regulator warning that any recurrence will result in enhanced penalties or licence revocation. Pemra has also directed all electronic media licensees to establish competent, impartial in-house monitoring committees to ensure strict editorial scrutiny of all future broadcasts.
In an earlier institutional statement, Geo News clarified that the controversial footage merely portrayed local customs and rituals practised by a limited number of people in Iraq and the wider Middle East, rather than endorsing any specific religious viewpoint. The broadcaster reiterated that the content was neither produced by the channel nor aired with deliberate intent, adding that the material was removed immediately once the issue came to light. The channel expressed deep regret over any distress caused and reaffirmed its institutional commitment to respecting the beliefs of the Muslim Ummah.
