PEMRA imposes Rs 1 Mln fine on private TV Channel

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has imposed a fine of Rs one million on a private television news channel for airing defamatory content against Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari.

The private news channel aired defamatory content against Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari in October last year.

Defamatory content against Zulfikar Bukhari aired in its two programmes ‘Jawab Chahiye’, hosted by Dr Danish, and ‘News Report’ aired on October 17 and 18, respectively.

According to PEMRA decision “Fine amounting to Rupees one million (Rs. 1,000,000) is imposed upon M/S Galaxy Broadcasting Network (Pvt.) Ltd./ Channel-92.

PEMRA in its decision said the private news channel had violated clause 22 (1) of the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisement) Code of Conduct, 2015 by airing false allegations.

the PEMRA also warned the media frame and anchorperson of strict action against airing any such a defamatory news programme against anybody in future. The PEMRA instructed the channel to make sure compliance of the decision within seven days of issuing the notification.

The SAPM in its complaint lodged with PEMRA on October 29, 2019, contended that anchorperson did a fictitious and fabricated show against him on Channel-92 which was factually incorrect and mendacious.

Zulfikar Bukhari appeared before the council in person along with his legal team while Usama Shamas, Aftab Bajwa and Sohail Bhatti represented the channel during the hearing.