Pemra tells Amir Liaquat to apologise on air for 'hate speech'

Published
10

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday issued a notification ruling against Aamir Liaquat, the host of Bol News TV show 'Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga', directing him to apologise on air to the viewers.

Liaquat had come under fire on social media when he went on air in his show on Jan 27 and levelled allegations of blasphemy against civil society activists and bloggers who had 'disappeared'. The regulatory authority had then taken action against the channel and the host by placing a ban on it.

Read more: 'Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga': Pemra slaps ban on Amir Liaquat after 'hate speech' on Bol News

However, a few weeks into the case, the Supreme Court had allowed Liaquat to continue hosting the show on the condition that the content aired will be devoid of hate speech.

It had further directed the controversial host to submit a reply, based on which the regulatory authority was to issue a decision.

Pemra, in its latest decision, directed the channel as well as Liaquat to apologise "unconditionally to the viewers" by "specifically naming all individual complainants against whom hate speech was aired".

The regulatory authority further directed both Bol News and the host to apologise separately and air it on or before March 31.

The channel was further directed to ensure that text is "scrolled/displayed on the screen during the entire programme" while Liaquat apologises to the viewers.

Pemra warned that non-compliance to the decision by Liaquat or the channel in "any manner" will result in the programme as well the host being banned from appearing on Bol TV. The ban, in that case, will go in effect April 1.

In addition, the authority imposed a fine of Rs1 million on the channel that must be paid within 15 days of issuance of this decision.

Opinion

Editorial

Fixing bond markets
Updated 01 Oct, 2026

Fixing bond markets

Pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, retail investors, and eventually, foreign investors must become bigger participants in the market.
Call centre rackets
01 Oct, 2026

Call centre rackets

A NUMBER of recent raids conducted by the authorities in different cities point to the growing threat fraudulent ...
Homeward bound
01 Oct, 2026

Homeward bound

FIVE months after Somali pirates captured an oil tanker carrying a 19-member multinational crew, Somali maritime...
Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...