Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on June 20, 2014 suspended licenses of two private TV channels, ‘Geo Entertainment’ and ‘ARY News’, just hours before the ending of 15-day suspension period of Geo News.
Geo Entertainment has been fined with one-month suspension along with Rs10 million fine, while the license of ARY News is suspended for 15 days and a same fine amount imposed on it.
PEMRA suspended these licenses and imposed fine due to violation of rules, reportedly committed by Geo Entertainment and ARY News. According to PEMRA release, Geo Entertainment is suspended because of airing blasphemous content on its morning show.
The license of ARY News was suspended over complaints about malicious statements against the judiciary on one of its talk shows. This is the second suspension faced by Geo TV network as Geo News was earlier suspended for 15 days by PEMRA in an order issued on June 6, 2014.