Bol News suspended for 30 days, PEMRA slaps Rs1m fine

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has suspended the license of BOL News for 30 days for airing contemptuous content against the judiciary.

According to PEMRA, the talk show titled ‘Tajzia’ hosted by Mr. Sami Ibrahim on BOL News aired contemptuous remarks against Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

“While concluding a show cause notice dated 13-10-2021 issued to M/S Labbaik (PVT) Ltd. on its programme ‘Tajzia’ hosted by Mr. Sami Ibrahim, PEMRA suspended satellite TV channel license conferred to ‘BOL News’ for 30 days and imposed fine to the tune of Rs.1 million.” the press release stated.

PEMRA suspends Bol News for 30 days, Fine of Rupees One Million is also imposed pic.twitter.com/x4pnetUT6i

— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) January 22, 2021

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

It said 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 Code of Conduct, 2015.

Sami Ibrahim is a popular TV anchor and has interviewed a number of high-profile figures, most recently Prime Minister Imran Khan. In its response to the show-cause notice, Bol News acknowledged that the content aired was not in accordance with PEMRA laws and directions of the Supreme Court, according to the press release.

“The channel did not express any regrets or remorse and argued that the show-cause notice is uncalled for and must be withdrawn,” it stated.

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