PEMRA suspends ARY license

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has suspended licence of ARY TV channel for airing anti-judiciary programs besides slapping it with Rs10 million fine.

The media watchdog has also banned ARY’s talk show Khara Sach and its host Mubashir Lucman.

Suspension of Geo News license draws outrage

LAHORE: Lawyers, politicians and civil society has strongly condemned the PEMRA decision, suspending Geo News license for 15 days.

Eminent lawyer and human rights activists Asma Jahangir said PEMRA's decision to suspend Geo News license reflects that not only a TV channel is being targeted it had also inflicted damage to the whole media industry.

Reacting over the PEMRA decision, Jahangir said that with the decision of the media watchdog against Geo News a deadlock has come to an end and now things should move forward after this decision.

Senator Zahid Khan of Awami National Party in his reaction to the PEMRA decision said, “Today what happened to Geo could happen to anybody else.” He condemned the suspension of Geo News and said, ”We consider this a sheer injustice to Geo.”

Pir Sabir Shah, President PML-N KPK chapter, said that PEMRA decision to suspend Geo News license was tantamount to a move against freedom of press.

Known as doyen of journalists in Khyber Pakhutunkhwa, Rahimullah Yousafzai said the regulatory authority gave one-sided decision without hearing Geo's stance.

Government mishandled Geo News issue which could have been resolved much earlier, said Mazhar Abbas.

Senior journalist and special advisor to PM, Irfan Siddiqui said democracy will be damaged if media is weakened. He said suspension of Geo News license is not a good day for media.

Siddiqui said government favours freedom of press. He said if PEMRA had crossed its limits the authority would be questioned for it.

Senior journalist Ansar Abbasi said Geo should take legal path over the suspension of its license.

Senior journalists strongly react over suspension of Geo license

KARACHI: Suspension of Geo News license by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has drawn strong reaction from senior journalists.

Senior journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai said the regulatory authority gave one-sided decision without hearing Geo's stance.

Government mishandled Geo News issue which could have been resolved much earlier, said Mazhar Abbas.

Senior journalist and special advisor to PM, Irfan Siddiqui said democracy will be damaged if media is weakened. He said suspension of Geo News license is not a good day for media.

Irfan said government favours freedom of press. He said if PEMRA had crossed its limits the authority would be questioned for it.

Ansar Abbasi said Geo should take legal path over the suspension of its license.

Saleem Safi said the message is being conveyed that the country is run on the principle of ‘might is right’.

PEMRA suspended Geo News license for 15 days without providing any evidence of hearing its stance on Friday.

Telenor Pakistan secures 3G license

KARACHI: Telenor Pakistan has secured the next generation spectrum license in the recently held auction, which it believes would take the country to a whole new level of technological advancement.

According to a press release issued by Telenor Pakistan, the recent development will enable the second largest mobile operator in Pakistan to offer broadband internet to its customers with innovative data packages through 3G platform.

The press release stated that Telenor Pakistan’s top management and the regulatory affairs department expressed satisfaction over the biding process.

It congratulated Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and the Ministry of Finance for successfully running the show in transparent manner.

“Telenor Pakistan believes that access to communication technology can contribute immensely towards empowering societies,” said Lars Christian Iuel, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telenor Pakistan. -PR