Pakistan TV station ARY News taken off air for being critical of government
The Hindu
A notice 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 popular Pakistan television station critical of the current government has been taken off air in much of the country for allegedly airing “seditious” content, the channel said Tuesday.
Ammad Yousaf, vice president of ARY News, 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 former prime minister Imran 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 Shahbaz Gill, an official of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, and alleged he made comments “tantamount to inciting the rank and file of armed forces towards revolt”.
PTI said Gill was detained in Islamabad on Tuesday afternoon and the party was unable to locate him.
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