ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority suspended the license of 7News television channel for 7 days for airing concocted, unverified and unethical stories about the female students of the Government College University (GCU) Faisalabad.
The decision of suspension of the license that ultimately mans ban for the said duration effective from November 1, 2017 (8.00 a.m) to November 7, 2017 (7.59 a.m) was made on Friday during the 135th authority meeting of Pemra after the body reviewed the complaints filed by the students.
The council of complaints Lahore chapter of Pemra had recommended a ban of thirty days on the channel, however, keeping in view the economy of working journalists as well as other staff members, the authority took a lenient view and decided to suspend the channel’s broadcast for one week with the direction to air apology on screen during the suspension.
According to a statement issued by the regulatory authority, the false report aired by the television channel on March 13th, not only damaged the reputation and goodwill of the said university but also subjected the students, their parents, friends and relatives to severe mental and psychological agony and torture.
In Friday’s meeting, the media watchdog expressed concerns over the unprofessional attitude and concocted report by the channel endangering the future of nation’s daughters.
The Authority further stated that a letter may also be sent to the Government of Punjab for initiating criminal proceedings against the Directors of the channel, namely, Sheraz Hashmi, Faraz Hashmi, Mrs. Romana Asif and the management of the hospital quoted during the news report.
