Lahore, Pakistan's media watchdog has issued a show-cause notice to a leading news channel for running "Indian content" while broadcasting the news about the death of legendary singer Asha Bhosle.
A ban on Indian content in Pakistan has been in place since 2018.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority issued the show-cause notice to GeoNews on Monday seeking an explanation as to why it aired Indian content along with the news of Bhosle's death.
Bhosle passed away on Sunday due to multi-organ failure. She was 92.
GeoNews Managing Director Azhar Abbas said that art, like knowledge, is a shared heritage of humanity, and it should not be confined by borders.
The PEMRA said GeoNews broadcast of Indian songs and visuals from Indian films while airing news of Bhosle's death is a wilful defiance of the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan that banned the airing of Indian content.
The CEO of M/s Independent Media Corporation has been summoned on April 27 and directed to explain in writing within 14 days as to why legal action, including inter alia imposition of fine, suspension and revocation of licence under Section 26, Section 29A and other enabling provisions of PEMRA Ordinance, 2002 as amended by PEMRA Act, 2023 should not be initiated.
