Blasphemous content Archives - Pakistan Freedom of Expression Monitor

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority suspends licenses of Geo Entertainment, ARY News

June 24, 2014

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

Pemra suspends Geo Entertainment, ARY News licenses

June 20, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) announced on Friday that the licenses of private TV channels Geo Entertainment and ARY News are to be suspended, DawnNews reported. Geo Entertainment has been slapped with a one month suspension along with a Rs10 million fine, while the license of ARY News will be suspended for 15 days and a similar fine

Geo TV advised to move HCs for FIRs’ quashing

June 19, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court advised a media house on Wednesday to approach high courts to seek the quashing of several FIRs registered against it for allegedly airing sacrilegious content during a morning show. The advice came when senior counsel Mohammad Akram Sheikh, representing Geo TV network, drew the attention of a three-judge bench to the registration of 45 FIRs in

Ban of major private TV network is ‘attack on press freedom’

June 7, 2014

The Pakistani government’s suspension of Geo TV, the country’s largest private broadcaster, is a politically motivated attack on freedom of expression and the media, Amnesty International said. “The suspension of Geo TV is a serious attack on press freedom in Pakistan. It is the latest act in an organized campaign of harassment and intimidation targeting the network on account of

Sunni Ittehad Council issues fatwa against Geo

May 16, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Scholars banded together in the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) issued on Thursday a fatwa (religious decree) against Geo TV for disrespecting religious and cultural values. The fatwa was prompted by an episode of the Geo Entertainment morning show ‘Utho Jago Pakistan’ aired a day earlier, which contained blasphemous content. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) also issued a

YouTube ban solution is in hand

May 8, 2014

When is YouTube opening? The question has tormented Pakistan’s internet users since the release of the Innocence of Muslims trailer, and the consequent blanket ban in September 2012. The answer was assumedly the responsibility of the then PPP government, which opted instead to let the issue slide and become the incoming PML-N’s headache. To its credit, the PML-N brought in

No foolproof way to block banned video, says PTA chief

March 11, 2014

ISLAMABAD: There is no foolproof way to block access to a video that resulted in the ban on YouTube in Pakistan, according to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Dr Ismail Shah. Dr Shah’s statement on Monday came a day before the Lahore High Court hears a petition seeking the court’s directive to the government to allow access to YouTube, blocked since

YouTube localised version not in sight till 2015

January 26, 2014

YouTube localised version not in sight till 2015 ISLAMABAD: Despite all the efforts of the government, a localized version of YouTube may not be in sight till 2015 because the prevention of electronic crimes bill would become applicable in June 2014 and only after that the website would

Senate body on human rights for unblocking ‘YouTube’

January 18, 2014

Senate body on human rights for unblocking ‘YouTube’ Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights on Friday recommended unblocking of ‘YouTube’, a social website blocked since a blasphemous movie “Innocence of Muslims” was uploaded on the website. The committee was of the view that political decision should be taken