'Army's Puppet': Pakistan's Media Watchdog Faces Flak Over Notice To Channel For Tributes To Asha Bhosle

Last Updated:April 14, 2026, 00:37 IST

The action by the PEMRA was widely condemned with many journalists and politicians calling it "cultural insecurity" and a direct assault on the shared heritage of the subcontinent

Pakistan’s media watchdog is facing heavy backlash after it issued a formal show-cause notice to a leading channel for broadcasting tributes to legendary Indian vocalist, Asha Bhosle.

Bhosle, 92, died of multiorgan failure on Sunday (April 12). The action by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was widely condemned with many journalists and politicians calling the regulator the “army’s puppet". They said the action taken was borne out of “cultural insecurity" and a direct assault on the shared heritage of the subcontinent.

WHAT IS IN THE PEMRA NOTICE?

According to the PEMRA, Geo News – historically seen as close to Pakistan’s military establishment and the PML-N government – allegedly committed a “wilful defiance" of a 2018 Supreme Court judgment that bans the airing of Indian content.

Specifically, in its notice to the channel, it cited violations of Rule 15(1) of the PEMRA Rules 2009 and different clauses of the 2015 Electronic Media Code of Conduct. It pointed to the songs and film visuals aired during the news coverage of Bhosle’s death. It has also summoned the chief executive of Geo News to appear on April 27, facing potential fines or the suspension and revocation of the channel’s licence.

WHAT DID THE CRITICS SAY?

Geo News, along with several media advocates hit back, arguing that the tribute was a legitimate celebration of an artistic icon whose legacy transcends national borders.

Azhar Abbas, managing director of Geo News, said it is “customary to revisit and celebrate the work of iconic artists when reporting on them". He said an artist of Bhosle’s stature deserved even more coverage than was provided.

In a post on X, Abbas he said “art, like knowledge, is a shared heritage of humanity" and should not be a “casualty" of war or border conflicts. He highlighted Bhosle’s deep personal and professional ties to Pakistan, noting her admiration for the legendary Noor Jehan – whom she fondly called her “elder sister" – and her collaborations with the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Journalists also criticised the PEMRA action. Senior journalist Rauf Klasra lambasted the move, describing the notice as “pure cultural insecurity and small-mindedness by the establishment". He said the “army-influenced regime" is using PEMRA to “silence any positive cultural coverage".

Critics said the watchdog is increasingly acting as a “censorship arm" rather than a neutral regulator, forcing a “narrow nationalist narrative" that prioritises political hostility over the subcontinent’s shared musical history. Senator Sherry Rehman of the Pakistan People’s Party also joined the chorus of condemnation, urging PEMRA not to “lose all perspective" and to cease “policing cultural transitions".

Despite the legal pressure, the prevailing sentiment among Pakistan’s media fraternity is that art and artists serve as vital voices against hatred and division. As critics pointed out, by targeting these timeless tributes to Bhosle, the establishment risks turning the nation into a “cultural prison" where the common artistic legacy of millions is being deliberately erased.

In the past, too, Bhosle is known to have collaborated with various Pakistani artistes including Sufi singer Abida Parveen and pop musician Atif Aslam. She appeared with Parveen and Aslam in the 2012 television musical show Sur Kshetra in India. Music director Himesh Reshammiya and Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila were also a part of the programme, which was a musical battle between Indian and Pakistani teams and was hosted by Indian actress Ayesha Takia.

News world 'Army's Puppet': Pakistan's Media Watchdog Faces Flak Over Notice To Channel For Tributes To Asha Bhosle

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