LHC suspends PEMRA's penalty against Neo TV

LAHORE - Lahore High Court suspended Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) decision to impose a fine of one million rupees on Neo TV for airing the hoax news of Gulberg blast in Lahore.

Neo TV challenged PEMRA’s decision in LHC through Advocate Saad Rasool. Neo TV’s lawyer presented his stance in front of Justice Aminuddin and said PEMRA had not fulfilled all the regulations and gave its verdict unlawfully.

The court accepted Neo TV’s application and declared to commence proper hearing of this case.

Furthermore, it suspended PEMRA’s decision of slapping fine on the channel. It also sought an explanation in four weeks.

گلبرگ دھماکہ کی جعلی خبر پر ناظرین سے معذرت نشر نہ کرنے پر 27 ٹی وی چینلوں کو اظہارِ وجوہ کا نوٹس pic.twitter.com/yWGw8aM3HK

— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) March 8, 2017

PEMRA had issued show-cause notices to as many as 29 tv channels for airing the news of a blast in Lahore's Gulberg area on February 23, when in reality no blast had taken place.

It also imposed fines on scores of television channels after a public outcry at the misinformation.