'Editorial Error': Geo News Apologises After Pakistan Suspends Broadcaster Over Muharram Documentary

Last Updated:June 28, 2026, 21:35 IST

According to the PEMRA, the programme included "religious visualisations" that had the potential to offend viewers, undermine religious harmony and trigger law-and-order concerns.

Geo News, one of Pakistan’s largest private television broadcasters, on Sunday issued a public apology after the country’s media regulator suspended its broadcast licence for 15 days over content aired during a Muharram programme.

The broadcaster said the visuals had been aired inadvertently, did not reflect its editorial policy or religious beliefs, and had been removed from all its platforms.

Pakistan’s media regulator, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), suspended the channel after concluding that content broadcast during its June 26 transmission could hurt religious sentiments and disrupt public order during Muharram, one of the holiest and most sensitive periods in the Islamic calendar.

According to the regulator, the programme included “religious visualisations" that had the potential to offend viewers, undermine religious harmony and trigger law-and-order concerns.

In its statement, Geo News said the footage depicted religious rituals practised by some communities in Iraq and other parts of West Asia and was intended solely to illustrate local customs rather than endorse any particular religious interpretation.

Geo News aired the clarification and apology over the programme named ‘Safar-e-Ishq’, and published an article on its website.

“Geo News has acknowledged an editorial error regarding content aired during its 10th Muharram transmission," the article said, referring to the ongoing first month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

PEMRA said the broadcaster had failed to exercise adequate editorial caution before airing the programme. Besides imposing a 15-day suspension, the regulator directed Geo News to conduct an internal inquiry into the incident and referred the matter to its Council of Complaints for further proceedings.

Pakistan has witnessed repeated controversies over religious content, with authorities often enforcing heightened restrictions during Muharram to prevent sectarian tensions. The country also remains highly sensitive to depictions involving revered Islamic figures.

The latest action comes amid continuing international scrutiny of media freedom in Pakistan, where television channels have periodically faced suspensions, restrictions and regulatory intervention. Reporters Without Borders ranked Pakistan 153rd out of 180 countries in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index.

About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c...Read More

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