PEMRA slaps Rs 10 mln fine on private channel over Muharram transmission violation

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2026) The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued a formal decision regarding Geo News, upholding its earlier suspension for 15 days and imposing a fine amounting to Rs 10 million.

The decision to this effect was taken in the backdrop of a violation committed by the private channel through a broadcast of religiously sensitive visual depictions during its 10th Muharram transmission on June 26, 2026, within a program titled "Safar-e-Ishq".

The decision followed extensive reviews by the Council of Complaints (CoC)in Lahore during its 127th, 128th, and 129th meetings, which incorporated hearings with the licensee's representatives as well as input from the Council of Islamic Ideology.

According to a news release, the matter was initially referred to the CoC which submitted its recommendations to the Authority “after hearing the licensee's representatives, examining the record, and the input of Council of Islamic Ideology."

“In its 191st meeting held on 11 July 2026, the Authority independently considered the recommendations, proceedings, written and oral submissions, entire record and applicable provisions of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2()02, the rules made thereunder and the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct, 2015.”

The electronic media watchdog found the transmission a violation "serious and contrary to the licensee's obligations under the PEMRA legal framework and the standards of responsible broadcasting."

The Authority considered the licensee's "admission of negligence, expression of remorse and unconditional public apologies, aired / published on all media platforms". However, the decision makes it firmly clear that while these actions hold weight, "these factors are mitigating but do not erase the violation or its legal consequences".

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Consequently, PEMRA formally affirmed its initial June 27 order suspending the Geo News broadcasting license for fifteen days. In addition to the suspension, a severe financial penalty was slapped, with the official order stating that a fine of "Rupees Ten Million (Rs. 10,000,000) is imposed upon the licensee".

The authority clarified that the channel's transmission "may resume only upon completion of the suspension period and payment of the fine".

In a stern directive regarding internal accountability, PEMRA ordered sweeping disciplinary measures against the staff responsible for the broadcast, stating in the order that "the licensee shall, after due process, terminate all concerned for failure to discharge duties relating to the broadcast of impugned content".

The order added that “the persons so terminated under clause (iii) shall, subject to applicable

law, remain ineligible for re-employment, appointment, engagement, retention or association, directly or indirectly and in any capacity, with any service operating under a licence, permission, registration or authorization issued or regulated by the Authority.”

To ensure rigid future compliance, Geo News is required to submit an affidavit confirming adherence to these directives.

PEMRA warned that any recurrence of a similar violation "shall invite enhanced penalties, suspension or revocation of licence, in accordance with law".

Finally, to prevent such incidents across the broader media landscape, the regulatory body directed every licensee to establish an "impartial and competent In-House Monitoring Committee / Editorial board" to guarantee strict editorial scrutiny of each and every broadcast prior to airing.