PEMRA seeks Council of Islamic Ideology’s guidance on Geo News suspension

LAHORE: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has sought the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII)’s guidance after Geo News submitted a response to the regulator over the suspension of its transmission last week.

Earlier, PEMRA suspended Geo News’ licence for 15 days for airing a programme on the 10th of Muharram that the regulator said was “liable to hurt the religious sentiments of viewers.”

In its suspension order, PEMRA said the 15-day ban was imposed over the “unacceptable religious portrayal” featured in the June 26 broadcast.

The regulator said the transmission violated the terms and conditions of the channel’s licence, along with multiple provisions of PEMRA laws.

In its latest letter, PEMRA has referred the matter to the CII, seeking guidance on whether the channel’s public apology was sufficient.

PEMRA’s Council of Complaints convened a meeting in Lahore on June 30 to review the broadcast, which the channel aired during a special Muharram transmission titled Safar-e-Ishq.

PEMRA said that during the June 30 hearing, the broadcaster’s executive directors and legal counsel pleaded for leniency and requested the immediate withdrawal of the suspension order.

“The network’s representatives argued that the visual content was an inadvertent human error, noting that a public apology had been published in leading newspapers, the content had been removed from all digital platforms, and an internal inquiry had been initiated against those responsible,” PEMRA said.

However, PEMRA’s Council of Complaints noted that “the network’s representatives failed to provide documentary evidence of the internal inquiry or any disciplinary action against the employees involved.”

Citing the profound sensitivity of the matter and balancing it against Article 19 of Pakistan’s Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and the press subject to “reasonable restrictions” in the interest of the glory of Islam, the Council has formally sought complete and binding guidance” from the CII.

“The Council of Islamic Ideology is requested to guide whether the suspension order already passed and the public apology, as well as the actions taken so far by Geo News, constitute an adequate response,” Council of Complaints Chairperson Dr Lubna Zaheer wrote in an official letter dated July 1.

The CII has also been asked to advise whether additional regulatory, disciplinary or penal action is warranted under Islamic teachings.

Under the current PEMRA law, the regulator has the authority to permanently revoke a broadcaster’s licence or impose fines of up to Rs10 million for serious violations.

The CII has been requested to submit its formal guidance by July 8, 2026.