Besides suspension ARY News fined Rs 10 mn

According to details, PEMRA asked cable operators to suspend the transmissions of ARY News for a period of 15 days, as was decided during an unlawful move by the authority earlier today.

The regulatory authority, apart from 15 days suspension, also asked the largest unbiased news channel to pay a fine of Rs 10 million.

Meanwhile, political parties, journalist fraternity, civil society and millions of people across the country and abroad have strongly condemned the move and labeled it unjust to impose a ban on a channel for showing the ‘truth’.

The unlawful decision was also opposed by four of the members of PEMRA itself. These members included Israr Abbasi, Fariha Iftikhar, Zeba Hussain and Mian Shams.

Member PEMRA, Mian Shams said that the authority did not provide ARY News a chance to clarify its position and passed an unjust verdict violating the rules of procedure.

The disagreeing members also vowed to write a note opposing the decision and to present it to the authority.