Aaj English TV

Tuesday, March 19, 2024  
08 Ramadan 1445  

ARY News TV channel’s NoC cancelled: notification

For airing Shahbaz Gill's remarks

ISLAMABAD: The no-objection certificate for ARY News has been cancelled two days after it was taken off air in Pakistan for airing PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s remarks. He is facing a case of sedition.

The internal communication order
The internal communication order

An official from ARY News – which supports ousted former prime minister Imran Khan – told AFP it had been blocked by Pakistan’s media authority for allegedly airing “seditious” content.

ARY said Gill’s statement was his personal opinion and had nothing to do this the channel’s policy.

Ammad Yousaf, vice president of the network, said the decision was “illegal and ridiculous”, and would be challenged in court.

A notice seen by AFP from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ARY said “hateful, seditious and malicious content on your channel raises serious concerns about your mala fide intent”.

A PEMRA official confirmed the authenticity of the notice, which directed the channel’s CEO to appear for a hearing on Wednesday.

ARY is one of Pakistan’s biggest private TV channels and has long supported Khan, who has been critical of the country’s powerful military since being ousted by a no-confidence vote in April.

The PEMRA notice referred to an appearance on ARY Monday by an official of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, alleging he made comments “tantamount to inciting the rank and file of armed forces towards revolt”.

Criticism of the country’s powerful security establishment has long been seen as a red line in Pakistan, ranked among the world’s most dangerous countries for media workers.

On Tuesday ARY was broadcasting as normal in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a Khan stronghold, but appeared to be off the air in other provinces – or was not being carried by local cable operators.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists warned of nationwide protests if full transmission was not restored.

Comments are closed on this story.

Comments

Taboola

Taboola ads will show in this div