Journalist Shahid Masood’s television program on a TV channel was stopped by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Friday for a period of two weeks due to “fake news” regarding aid sent to Turkiye following the earthquake that cost more than 40,000 lives.
In a statement, PEMRA said that Masood had “uttered fake news” about the relief provided by the Sindh government to earthquake victims on his program “Live with Dr. Shahid Masood” and “made unsubstantiated” remarks.
The diplomatic ties between the two friendly nations were irreparably harmed by the words made in that show, which was broadcast on February 16, according to the authorities. The program’s contents were also “quoted in foreign media for propaganda against Pakistan,” according to the press statement.
It further stated that a social media video clip served as the basis for the information broadcast on Masood’s show.
Dr. Masood’s program was suspended for two weeks beginning on March 10 after “considering the reaction of the channel,” according to Pemra. “A show cause notice was sent to the channel dated Feb. 20 and an opportunity for a formal personal hearing,” she said.
Masood asserted in the program that aired on February 16 that the assistance provided by Pakistan was actually the same as that provided by Turkey during last year’s devastation floods. He said that the supplies had tags indicating it came from the government of Sindh.
It is important to note that Masood apologized on the program that aired on February 20 and claimed that the material was distributed “unintentionally”. A message from a Turkish or Syrian number had unexpectedly arrived, he claimed, just before his program was about to air.
