PEMRA: Private TV channel's license suspended for airing 'hateful content':
The Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has suspended the license of a private TV channel for allegedly broadcasting hateful content during a special transmission on the 10th of Muharram.
According to a press release issued by PEMRA, a private TV channel "broadcast hateful content without any editorial control during the special transmission of 10 Muharram and violated PEMRA rules."
It should be noted that the private channel was covering a mourning procession in Karachi in which allegedly hate speeches were made by the people involved in the procession.
PEMRA said that complaints have been received on social media against the content on which the authority took immediate action and suspended the channel's license under section 30 (3) of the PEMRA Ordinance.
PEMRA, while suspending the channel's license, has taken a stand that hateful content in the broadcast has raised fears of disturbing the peace in the country.
According to a press release issued by PEMRA, the authority had on August 20 issued an advisory to all TV channels regarding Muharram and during its broadcasts, the channels were asked to provide material that would harm interfaith harmony or incite hatred. And based on sectarianism, was instructed not to broadcast.
PEMRA has issued a show cause notice to the private TV channel, ordering it to respond within 14 days and suspending the channel's license till the inquiry is completed.
On the other hand, Karachi Police has registered a case under Section 295A of the Pakistan Penal Code against the person who had given permission for the mourning procession at Predi Police Station in Gharbi District.
The position of the channel management
A senior official of the private TV channel told the BBC: "We have committed this negligence in ignorance. The company did not have such a position and we can never think like that."
He said that live coverage of the mourning procession was going on in Karachi and the mourners were praying after the noon prayers during which Zakir Sahib recited some words in Arabic, because we are an Urdu channel and including our staff. "Arabic is not a common language for most of the country's population, so we didn't know it."
He said that in this regard live broadcasts were immediately cut off and the channel has also apologized in accordance with PEMRA rules.
Explaining the incident, he reiterated that "we cannot think of any such act."
Criticizing the role of PEMRA, he said, "The decision of PEMRA to suspend the license is not correct as we have apologized as per PEMRA rules and we were in touch with PEMRA officials immediately after the incident."
"Our channel has a history of being targeted. Even before that, there have been several attempts to shut down the channel for one reason or another,"
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