ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has suspended the licence of Geo News for 15 days and ordered the channel to halt its transmission over ‘unacceptable religious depiction’ in its programme Safar-e-Ishq aired on the 10th of Muharram.
In a statement, PEMRA said the programme contained religious imagery that was inconsistent with the country's religious, social and cultural values and principles. The regulator added that its Complaints Council would conduct further hearings before recommending any additional regulatory action.
PEMRA said it would examine the circumstances that led to the broadcast and determine responsibility for the incident.
Reacting to the development, Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar said matters related to religion require the highest level of caution.
"We must avoid imaginary or dramatized depictions of religious events. The matter will be taken to its logical conclusion, and all facts will be brought before the public," the minister said.
In response, Geo News acknowledged its mistake and issued an apology over the content aired in Safar-e-Ishq.
The channel said the programme had portrayed rituals practised by a limited number of people in Iraq and some other Middle Eastern countries and that the content was not intended to represent, endorse or promote any particular religious viewpoint.
Geo News further stated that the controversial content was removed immediately after the issue came to light and disciplinary action had been initiated against those responsible.
The broadcaster expressed regret over the incident and apologised for the error.