Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has banned talk show host Amir Liaquat and his show ‘Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga’ on BOL News.
According to PEMRA, Amir Liaquat shall not host any programme or appear on any TV in any manner, including (but not limited to) as a guest, analyst, reporter, actor, in audio, video beeper, promo/advertisement of his programme or in person, in any manner whatsoever, on BOL News with an immediate effect.
PEMRA bans Aamir Liaquat and his programme
عامر لیاقت اور پروگرام "ایسے نہیں چلے گا" پر پیمرا کے حکم سے فوری پابندی عائد pic.twitter.com/sxXlPvpAVM
— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) January 26, 2017
The Pemra statement further stated if Liaquat “continues to abuse freedom of speech and violates the Pemra Code of Conduct 2015, Pemra Ordinance 2002, and Rules and Regulations on any other TV channel(s), the authority shall invoke Section 27 of Pemra Ordinance 2002 against that TV channel.”
The notification forbade Amir Liaquat from declaring anyone kaafir or ghaddar as according to the constitution of Pakistan, the right to do that exists only with the Superior Judiciary or the Parliament.
The ban came after social activist Jibran Nasir filed an official complaint with the Pemra against TV anchor for ‘maligning’ him. Pemra took the decision of banning Amir after ‘monitoring’ him for several weeks. “During several weeks it has been monitored that Amir Liaquat host of the programme Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga, in the episodes broadcast on BOL News from January 2, 2017 to January 24, 2017, has willfully and repeatedly made statements and allegations which tantamount to hate speech, derogatory remarks, incitement to violence against citizens and casting accusation of being anti-state and anti-Islam, on various individuals.”