29 TV channels issued notice for false news

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Thursday issued show cause notices to as many as 29 TV channels for airing false news of bomb blast in Lahore and ‘creating panic in the public.

Following the explosion in Lahore, which claimed at least lives of eight innocent people, TV channels reported it as a bomb blast in the city. The TV channels claimed that the blast occurred outside a foreign food chain restaurant.

The TV channels reported the ‘breaking news’ between 1:00pm-2:00pm creating panic and fear among the public, the Pemra statement said. The ‘erring channels’ have been asked to explain why they not be fined up to Rs1 million each or their licenses not be suspended/cancelled for airing such news.

The TV channels that aired the false news include: Geo, Khyber News, 92 News, Dunya, Samaa, Metro 1, ARY, Awaz, Jaag, Abb Takk, Roze, DawnNews, Mehran, Kohinoor, 7 News, Lahore News, Neo, Capital, Sach, Sindh TV, Express News, Channel 5, Din, Waqt, KTN, NewsOne, Channel 24, BOL, and K-21. 

However, the police denied the news of bomb blast. Law minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah also denied the false news. The authority has asked the TV channels to explain intentions behind airing this news. Pemra has given one week to the channels to present their explanation for airing false news without any confirmation.