Pemra slaps Rs1mn fine on Geo News for programme deemed 'highly seditious and scandalous'

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

Pemra slaps Rs1mn fine on Geo News for programme deemed 'highly seditious and scandalous'

Sanaullah Khan Published August 6, 2019

Pemra warns Geo News of license suspension in case of non compliance and repeated violation. — Photo courtesy of Geo News

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The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday slapped a fine of Rs1 million on Geo News for airing a "highly seditious and scandalous programme against National Accountability Bureau Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal and maligning state institutions".

According to Pemra, anchorperson Shahzaib Khanzada in his programme "Aaj Shahzaib Khanzada Kay Sath," on July 18, discussed the matter of a scandalous video targeting the NAB chairman unilaterally, without taking into account the point of view of NAB.

The electronic media regulatory body in a statement said that Geo News, by airing the content, violated the "Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015 and orders of the Supreme Court".

"Geo News, in its reply and arguments made by its representative during the personal hearing, failed to defend the allegations leveled in the show cause [sent to the channel]," read the statement.

The media regulator also warned the channel that in case of non compliance and repeated violation, strict legal action will be taken, which may result in suspension of license given to Geo News.

Pemra also directed Geo News to constitute an in-house editorial committee to vet the content before airing.

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Parvez

Aug 06, 2019 11:25pm

Rs. 1 million ?

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osama dar

Aug 06, 2019 11:28pm

sach ki umang sirf tab jagti hai jab apne dil ko thes lage.

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Imran

Aug 06, 2019 11:30pm

They think everything is ok under freedom of speech.

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Omer

Aug 06, 2019 11:32pm

RIP freedom of speech! Anybody criticizing govt gets arrested or reprimanded!!

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SajjadX

Aug 06, 2019 11:36pm

Censorship.

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Seedoo

Aug 06, 2019 11:39pm

Maligning state institutions!!!!! This is how media is harassed in Pakistan. Why can't anyone criticize state institutions? Are we not a democracy and should we not have freedom of press? Instead of being so sensitive about everything, they should accept criticism and use it to get better.

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M. Saeed

Aug 06, 2019 11:41pm

How could it be any news if it is required to be ratified first by the person subject of the news?

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Zunaid

Aug 06, 2019 11:42pm

End of democracy in pak

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brr

Aug 06, 2019 11:43pm

FREE press you say?

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Syed A. Mateen

Aug 06, 2019 11:46pm

It is known to all in Pakistan that after state PTV, ARY a private TV channel has left behind the PTV in projecting the narrative of PTI government. Geo is the largest viewed private TV channel which is graded as anti-state TV channel in the country though this is not the case. If any TV channel reports the facts and figures correctly and that is crossed checked by the people through various means that particular channel becomes popular among the masses. It is not practically possible for Pempra to cancel licenses of all private TV channels and let PTV and ARY to remain on air.

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Farhan

Aug 06, 2019 11:54pm

I think GEO should come to me if they really need evidence on National Accountability Bureau Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal. He's the most innocent person in the planet. Wait till his case blows up. Farhan

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Think about it

Aug 06, 2019 11:56pm

This is called as media freedom

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Nomi Goraya

Aug 07, 2019 12:00am

There were two claims made by our PM during the successful visit of USA 1. USA is ready to mediate Kashmir issue so Kashmir lost its left sovereignty and USA said it is India internal matter 2. Our media is totally free ...... Even I leave rest to readers that in a country where sitting PM his ailing wife and his all family was constantly humiliated just few a year ago suddenly became so sensitive ......

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Muhammad Khan

Aug 07, 2019 12:04am

We are well on our way to fascism.... One slap at a time.

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Munawar Abbas Kanwal

Aug 07, 2019 12:04am

Where we are going with this one? One should be wise enough not to slam people with scandalous news punches where as, on the other hand, government should cut them some slack as it's not some kingdom of a king. We have UK, USA and Australia where media even call leaders as "idiot" and more often "clown" when it comes to Mr. Trump and here we are defending sanctity of a state institution which is apparently for people.

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Icon

Aug 07, 2019 12:15am

1 million only?

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Mushy

Aug 07, 2019 12:16am

Just 1 million??

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Syed Anjum Ali

Aug 07, 2019 12:17am

I strongly protest this political vendetta and media censorship ploy against a TV channel that is doing a good and balanced job at this dark time. The program mentioned was not seditious at all. It was a reasonable commentary .

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Hani_Layyah

Aug 07, 2019 12:23am

@Omer, misuse of freedom of speech...

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Aug 07, 2019 12:36am

Was the video not a reality? GEO and the media had the journalistic responsibility to report it in the public interest. The video exposed the character of the man who is appointed as the chairman of the NAB. After such exposure, the man should have resigned or should have been fired. But NO, the man is still there and the media is being fined for reporting the truth. Where is the justice in this PEMRA decision?

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Zia-ul-Faq (Fading Light)

Aug 07, 2019 12:43am

IK govt showing its true fascist colours.

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watchman

Aug 07, 2019 12:55am

was the audio / video false . if so NAB chairman should file for that in court . he is an ex judge . why use PEMRA stick to beat Journalists who are doing the job informing people of what is happening in the country

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JustWasif

Aug 07, 2019 01:06am

I am not impressed. #JustWasif

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Saif Zulfiqar

Aug 07, 2019 01:06am

@Parvez, Pemra can not charge more according to their regulations. If they charge more, the Opposotion will say it is politucal victimisation.

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Ersalan

Aug 07, 2019 01:13am

It's not about Freedom of speech or Freedom of Media its about the kind of content being shared with the public. MEDIA is the only platform globally that demonstrates the mindset of the society. MEDIA should check the airing of every content by looking at the quality of the content as well as the background of the content with some evidences to prove that whatever they are showing the public is true and else not base on just for the time being created rated content. MEDIA should be a source of information based on truth and neutral approach not just a viewership content. Bring quality content with basic facts and figures to create a responsible, aware and mannered society which Pakistan direly needs today.

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Abdul Jabbar

Aug 07, 2019 01:30am

This is arm twisting. Free media important for country. I find Mariam NS news on Dawn only.

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Shan

Aug 07, 2019 01:37am

Censorship in its true vibrant colors.

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Raja Pakistani

Aug 07, 2019 01:40am

Crooks and sacred cows are protected under Pemra rules?

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Syed

Aug 07, 2019 02:00am

Yeah please only air content the govt agrees with.

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Jimmy Narielwalla

Aug 07, 2019 02:06am

1 Million is peanuts, PEMRA should slap GEO TV with minimum 10 Million penalty.

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Sid

Aug 07, 2019 02:07am

@Omer, this was not criticism of the government but of a PMLN appointed NAB chairman.

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Changez Khan

Aug 07, 2019 02:10am

GEO News license should have been suspended long time ago, don't know what are they waiting for?

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Cye

Aug 07, 2019 02:39am

1 billion should be better.

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Karachi King

Aug 07, 2019 02:45am

Should be 100 million next time...

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Sameer

Aug 07, 2019 02:56am

Geo cant stomach that Nawaz is no more. Plain and simple.

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tuk

Aug 07, 2019 04:04am

Media is state institution too!

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Rohail

Aug 07, 2019 04:10am

Should have slapped with 30 days of ban with additional warning of permanent banned if repeated.

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neo

Aug 07, 2019 04:57am

@Imran , Yes. Thats the idea of "Freedom Of Speech". Say what you want, whether you like it or not.

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Rashida Khan

Aug 07, 2019 05:12am

I applaud the "freedom" of press in Pakistan. Or shall we call it the freedom to oppress.

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M. A. Durrani

Aug 07, 2019 05:13am

Good action taken by pemra. We appreciate pemra authorities

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Ali khan

Aug 07, 2019 07:10am

A person whos scandalous vedio came on line and the media cannot highlight it , i thing we are under democratic govt.

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Jadun

Aug 07, 2019 11:58am

This reminds us of Chairman NAB's video scandal. Has any action been taken?

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