ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Thursday served a show-cause notice to the Geo Entertainment Channel for airing controversial content.<\/p>\n
Taking immediate cognisance of the controversial content aired in the morning show of the Geo Entertainment Channel, \u201cUtho Jago Pakistan\u201d hosted by Shaista Lodhi, on May 14, PEMRA has served a show-cause notice to the channel and has called for immediate explanation, said a press release on Thursday. PEMRA said the aired content was in violation of clauses (a), (i) & (p) of PEMRA Code of Conduct, contained in Schedule A of PEMRA Rules 2009 which states that:<\/p>\n
(1) No programme shall be aired which- (a) passes derogatory remarks about any religion or sect or community or uses visuals or words contemptuous of religious sects and ethnic groups or which promotes communal and sectarian attitudes or disharmony; (i) is against basic cultural values, morality and good manners; (p) contains material which is against ideology of Pakistan or Islamic values.<\/p>\n
PEMRA has received more than 5,000 public complaints against the programme of the channel through PEMRA Complaints Call Centre and website. The complaints are being referred to the Council of Complaints in the light of Section 26 of PEMRA Act 2007, for deciding the matter on emergent basis within a week.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the TV channel has launched an inquiry against the show over what it terms was an \u201cinadvertent mistake\u201d. Earlier, Dr Shaista Lodhi, the host of the show, apologized over the \u201cinadvertent mistake\u201d in the programme. According to her statement aired on Thursday, the remorseful host said that she along with the entire team of the show feels sorry and tenders an apology \u201cfor the circumstances that were triggered unintentionally due to the content of the programme broadcast yesterday\u201d.<\/p>\n
Dr Shaista said that she seeks forgiveness from the Almighty Allah over an unintended gaffe that hurt the sentiments of the people. The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Thursday demanded the government ban Geo TV just like YouTube had been banned. \u201cThe satellite news channel has started \u2018attacking\u2019 the sacraments of Islam, thus it must be taken off air,\u201d alleged SIC leader Sahibzada Hamid Raza.<\/p>\n
Raza said that the SIC would move the Supreme Court of Pakistan against this violation. \u201cGeo TV must be tried for blasphemy against the holy Quran and Islamic traditions,\u201d he said. The SIC chief stressed that social reformation was one of media\u2019s key responsibilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mass media with their extensive outreach must always be careful about the content they are airing. They must design it in a way that it does not hurt anyone\u2019s sentiments, especially religious,\u201d Raza said. He also announced that the SIC would stage a protest sit-in against the channel on Sunday. \u201cWe will protest until the satellite channel is banned\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n