Geo News Licence suspended for 15 Days over Muharram transmission

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has suspended broadcasting licence of Geo News for 15 days with immediate effect over the airing of a special Muharram transmission that the authority says contained “sensitive religious visualization.”

The suspension follows broadcast of “Safar-e-Ishq,” a programme aired during the channel’s special coverage of 10th Muharram. According to PEMRA, the visual representation shown during the transmission was capable of hurting religious sentiments, undermining religious harmony, and posing a risk to public peace and law and order.

In its order, the regulator said its Monitoring Wing reported that the programme crossed regulatory boundaries due to the religious, cultural and social sensitivities associated with the content. PEMRA maintained that broadcasters are expected to exercise heightened editorial caution while airing religious material, particularly during sacred occasions such as Muharram.

The authority held that Geo News failed to uphold its obligations under the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002, the PEMRA Rules 2009, the Television Broadcast Station Operations Regulations 2012, the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015, as well as PEMRA’s directive issued on 15 June 2026 regarding the observance of the sanctity of Muharram-ul-Haram.

Invoking its powers under Section 30 of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002, the Authority Committee ordered the immediate suspension of Geo News’ licence for 15 days. The order directs that the channel’s transmission remain suspended across satellite services and all distribution platforms during the period, while cable operators and distribution service providers have been instructed to implement the decision without delay.

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The News Channel has been ordered to conduct an internal inquiry into the editorial, monitoring and compliance failures that led to the controversial broadcast. The channel must submit the findings of its investigation, along with details of corrective and preventive measures, before the Council of Complaints during the proceedings.