PEMRA seeks CII advice on Geo News suspension over Muharram broadcast

In a letter sent to the CII chairman on July 1, PEMRA requested the council's opinion on whether the channel's 15-day suspension, public apology

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has sought guidance from the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on whether the action already taken against Geo News over its controversial Muharram transmission is sufficient or if further measures should be considered.

In a letter sent to the CII chairman on July 1, PEMRA requested the council’s opinion on whether the channel’s 15-day suspension, public apology, and disciplinary actions against those responsible adequately address the matter in line with Islamic teachings. The regulator has asked the council to provide its recommendations within seven days.

The move follows Pemra’s decision on June 28 to suspend Geo News’ transmission for 15 days after it aired content during Muharram that the authority said could offend the religious sentiments of viewers. The suspension applies to satellite transmission and all distribution platforms.

PEMRA has also referred the case to its Council of Complaints, which has been tasked with reviewing whether any additional regulatory, disciplinary, or legal action is warranted under the Pemra Ordinance, 2002, relevant rules, the Electronic Media Code of Conduct, and other applicable laws.

Geo News has acknowledged the editorial lapse, describing the broadcast as an unintentional mistake. The channel said the footage depicted rituals practiced by a limited number of people in Iraq and certain other Middle Eastern countries and was neither intended to promote any religious viewpoint nor reflective of its editorial policy.

According to the broadcaster, the disputed content was removed immediately after it came to light, and disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the employees responsible. Show-cause notices were issued, a formal internal inquiry was launched, and the organization publicly apologized for the incident.

Geo News also reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the religious beliefs and sensitivities of the Muslim Ummah, stating that the broadcast resulted from a serious editorial error rather than deliberate intent.

PEMRA is expected to review the Council of Islamic Ideology’s recommendations before deciding whether any further action will be taken against the broadcaster.