Fake news regarding Imran Khan's third marriage lands news channels in trouble

According to a notification issued by the authority, PEMRA complaints council discussed the issue after complaint from PTI Central Media Department. The council recommended a Rs50,000 fine each on 13 news channels including Dunya News, Geo News, Neo News, Royal News, Khyber News, Channel 24, Channel 92, NewsOne, Such TV, Roze News, Channel 5 and Geo Tez.

The PEMRA notification says that the channels violated its code of conduct by airing the news without any evidence.

The notification further states that the complainant only wanted action against Dunya News channel but PEMRA council recommended fine on all channels who aired the fake news.

The complaints council recommended that the news channels should also air an apology. Failing to do so, the channel’s license should be cancelled.

A number of news channels on July 12, 2016 aired the news regarding PTI chief Imran Khan’s third marriage and some even showed pictures of his third wife. The news soon turned out to be baseless.

Related: PTI spokesperson denies reports of Imran’s third marriage

PTI spokesman Naeemul Haq on that very day, issued a statement expkaining that decision regarding Khan’s marriage will be taken by his family. He declared all reports about Khan’s getting married as speculative and false.

At the same time, Haq said PTI chief had expressed wish, in conversation with sisters some time ago, to get marry again. But no decision has been taken in this regard.