The news of the death of Indian legendary singer Asha Bhosle was reported with sadness in Pakistan as well as around the world, however, Geo News has received a show-cause notice from PEMRA for its coverage.
According to the channel, the notice alleges that film clips of Asha Bhosle’s songs were aired along with the news, which is a violation of the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision that banned the airing of Indian content on Pakistani channels.
Confirming the notice on social media, Geo News Managing Director Azhar Abbas said that it is a journalistic tradition to pay tribute to the services of artists around the world, and art cannot be confined within borders.
He said that Asha Bhosle also had a close relationship with Pakistani artists and poets like Noor Jehan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Nasir Kazmi.
On the other hand, PEMRA maintains that playing film song packages on the news of an artist’s death is against journalistic standards, and broadcasting Indian content is a violation of a court order and the PEMRA Ordinance.
The agency has directed Geo News to file a response by April 27.
It may be recalled that a new controversy has emerged during the recent Iran-US talks being mediated by Pakistan in Islamabad, according to which government and military institutions have prevented Pakistani media from broadcasting news related to the talks. This ban has created a strong reaction in journalistic circles, where it is being called against the fundamental freedom of access to information.
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