Bol News suspended for 30 days by PEMRA with a fine of Rs1 million

The Pakistan Electronic Media Authority Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Friday has suspended the license of the Bol News TV channel for 30 days and imposed an Rs1 million fine on it for airing “contemptuous” remarks against judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The regulatory authority has issued a show-cause notice on January 13  to M/s Labbaik Pvt. Ltd. (Bol News) over its programme “Tajzia” hosted by anchorperson Sami Ibrahim.

The above-mentioned episode of the program aired contemptuous remarks against the chief justice of the Lahore High Court and other honourable judges while discussing the matter of appointment of judges in the LHC, said PEMRA in its statement.

The statement further added that both Ibrahim and a senior correspondent of the channel cast aspersions against the superior judiciary in violation of Article 19 read with Article 68 of the Constitution and the Pemra laws including the Pemra Code of Conduct, 2015. 

“The channel did not express any regrets or remorse and argued that [the] show-cause notice is uncalled for and must be withdrawn,” Pemra’s statement read.

After evaluating the reply submitted and the content aired by Bol News, Pemra concluded the matter by suspending its satellite TV channel license. The channel must pay the Rs1m fine within 30 days, the statement concluded.