ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) hasdirected the Channel 24 and its anchor to air an apology for propagatingfalse news about Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“The apology, including that in audio visual and text scroll form, shouldclearly refer to in its subjective context without repeating theafore-noted news item,” a PEMRA press release said on Friday.
The channel is also directed to deposit a sum of rupees one million as finein favour of PEMRA within seven days of the date of issuance of this order.
In case of failure to comply with the above orders either in partial or asa whole, the programme titled “Najam Sethi Ke Sath” shall remain prohibitedfor 30 days.
If the channel fails to comply with the afore-stated directives, it will beconstrued that the channel is willfully defiant and subsequently proceedingwould be initiated to suspend/ and revoke the license.
“PEMRA, in pursuance to the recommendations of Council of ComplaintsIslamabad made in its 49th meeting dated April 24, 2019 in the matter ofcomplaint lodged by Mr. Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan through M/sBabar Awan & Associates against ‘Channel-24’ / M/s Central Media (Pvt.)Ltd. has decided in terms of Clause 18 of the Electronic Media (Programmesand Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015, that the Channel and its anchorshould air apology within seven days from the date of issuance of thisorder, during the prime time in the same programme, to its audience in thesame magnitude as the allegations were aired, besides running text scrollsto the same effect for propagating false news about Prime Minister ofPakistan,” the press release said.