ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has fined 17 satellite TV channels for misinterpreting the recent verdict announced by the Lahore High Court regarding the ban on anti-judiciary commentary.
According to a communique issued by the media watchdog, the TV channels falsely reported on April 16th that Lahore High Court had imposed an interim ban on the airing of anti-judiciary speeches made by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders.
The media regulator has therefore imposed a fine of one million rupees each on Royal News, Din News, Channel- 92, Dunya TV, Channel-5, AAJ TV, Express News, Roze TV, Samaa TV, Dawn News, ARY News, Waqt TV, Bol News, KTN News, Koh-e-Noor TV and Geo News.
A fine of Rs200,000 was imposed on Mashriq TV for airing a ticker concerning the news story in question.
Earlier, the regulatory body had summoned the management of these channels to appear before the tribunal and submit replies.
After hearing the viewpoint of channels, PEMRA concluded that the news networks had violated Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct, 2015, and ignored an advisory issued by the authority on April 6.
All channels were directed to air an apology during prime time on Sunday (May 6) for airing false news and to properly utilise time-delay mechanism.
In case of non-compliance with the decision, the authority shall proceed against the channels for suspension of the licence under Section 30 of Pemra Ordinance 2002, said the regulator.
