ISLAMABAD, Sunday, June 28, 2026 (WNP): The national electronic media regulator has suspended the broadcast licence of private television channel Geo News for 15 days after determining that the documentary ‘Safar-e-Ishq’ violated broadcasting regulations by hurting religious sentiments and posing a risk to sectarian harmony.
In a statement, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said the channel broadcast “religious visualisations” during a programme aired on Friday, June 26, which it found capable of offending religious sentiments, undermining religious harmony and disturbing public order during the sensitive observance of Muharram.
The regulator said the channel had failed to exercise the required editorial caution while airing religious content and directed Geo News to conduct an internal inquiry into the incident. The matter has also been referred to PEMRA’s Council of Complaints for further proceedings.
Geo News issued a public apology on Sunday, saying the material had been aired inadvertently and did not reflect the channel’s editorial policy, institutional beliefs or intentions.
The broadcaster said the disputed footage had been removed from all of its digital and broadcast platforms.
According to the channel, the visuals depicted religious rituals observed by some communities in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East and were intended solely to illustrate local customs rather than endorse any particular religious interpretation or belief.
Religious depictions, particularly those involving revered Islamic personalities, remain an exceptionally sensitive issue in the country, where authorities routinely adopt heightened security measures during Muharram to preserve public order and inter-sect harmony.
The suspension comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of electronic media content during religious occasions, with authorities emphasizing the need for responsible editorial practices to safeguard communal harmony and prevent the spread of material that could inflame sectarian tensions.
