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Pakistan suspends Geo News broadcast license for 15 days over religious content

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Pakistan suspends Geo News broadcast license for 15 days over religious content

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New York, July 2, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Pakistan’s media regulator to immediately lift its 15-day suspension of Geo News’ broadcast license after the news network was reprimanded over ​content aired during a program marking Muharram, one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said that Karachi-based Geo News had broadcast “religious visualization” during a June 26 program that could offend religious sentiments and disturb public order. 

Geo News, one of Pakistan’s largest Urdu-language news channels, apologized on June 28 for the broadcast, saying the material had been aired in error and did not reflect the channel’s editorial position. On July 1, the broadcaster announced it had fired the employees responsible for producing and approving the material.

“The suspension of Geo News’ license over its programming marks a serious escalation in official interference with Pakistan’s news media,” said CPJ Afghanistan-Pakistan Representative Waliullah Rahmani. “Pakistani authorities must immediately withdraw PEMRA’s suspension order and allow Geo News and all independent news outlets to operate without heavy-handed government meddling.”

Geo News said the programs depicted “certain rituals practiced by a limited number of people in Iraq and some other Middle Eastern countries” — but did not promote any broader religious point of view.

Pakistan, which has strict blasphemy laws, has heightened media regulations during Muharram. Depictions of the Prophet Muhammad and other Islamic figures are especially sensitive and have triggered unrest in Pakistan in the past.

The PEMRA office in Islamabad did not immediately respond to CPJ’s emailed request for comment.

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