Pemra imposes fine on channels airing fake news on Lahore blast

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Friday unanimously decided to impose a fine of Rs1 million on each national private TV channel and Rs500,000 on each regional TV channel, which had aired fake news of a bomb blast in Gulberg, Lahore on February 23, 2017.

The authority also directed the management of all 29 TV channels to air apology on their screens on March 06, 2017 at 6:00pm in the same manner and magnitude as the fake news was aired. Besides, tickers/scroll pertaining to apology shall also be aired from 6:00pm to 7:00pm during the regular transmission of the channels.

The national news and current affairs channels, which aired fake news of bomb blast in Gulberg, Lahore are namely Samaa TV, Dawn News, Channel-5, 7 News, Din News, Capital TV, BOL News, News One, AbbTakk, Roze TV, K-21, Jaag TV, Waqt TV, Channel-92, Express News, Sach TV, Channel-24, Lahore News, Metro One, Geo News, Duniya TV, ARY News, NEO TV and Koh-e-Noor. 

The regional news and current affairs channels, which aired fake news are namely KTN News, Sindh TV News, Khyber News, Awaz TV and Mehran TV. The authority members expressed their determination on taking strict action against any unprofessional practice by the TV channels.

The authority also asked the Ministry of Information and broadcasting to look into the complaints against PTV on airing of fake news.  Pemra had received a number of complaints against PTV but PTV does not come under Pemra.