ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) while taking cognizance of perpetual violations by Geo News and Geo Super with regards to PEMRA Ordinance 2002 and licence terms and conditions on Tuesday issued notices to Geo News on airing false news reports whereby it was claimed that PEMRA has blocked the transmission of Geo Super. This news item is an effort by Geo News to deceive and misguide general public of the facts as well as to malign the Authority which inter alia has been discharging its function without any prejudice and in due conformity to law.As per Section 20 of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002 and clause (1) (d) of Code of Conduct of PEMRA Rules 2009, no satellite TV channel can broadcast any news item which is knowingly false and which may injure the sanctity of any individual or institution, said a PEMRA press release.Geo News has been issued repeated warnings and notices for propagating false, distorted and baseless news on its channel and had been warned to refrain from creating media hype through biased reporting to gain public sympathies.
Another Show Cause Notice was issued by PEMRA to Geo Super, for suspending its satellite transmission since April 5, in contravention to Section 28 of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 and clause 24.1 © of the licence terms and conditions which prohibits any broadcast media or distribution service operator from ceasing or suspending broadcasting.In this regard it is clarified that Geo Super is up-linking its transmission from Dubai and is authorized to market and distribute only in Pakistan though a local company i.e. “M/s. Birds Pvt. Ltd.” The channel management has suspended its transmission at its own since April 5, and has launched a baseless media campaign against the regulator alleging for banning its transmission which is factually incorrect.PEMRA, time and again has clarified that under Landing Rights Permission no channel has privilege to transmit its signal from Pakistani Territory or cover any live event occurred in Pakistan unless granted Temporary Up-linking Permission for covering any Specific Event. It is worth mentioning that PEMRA has 86 satellite TV licensees and 27 Landing Rights Permission holder including channels of Geo group but no one has ever complained, whereas, only Geo group is spreading baseless news stories. – APP
