Pakistan’s media regulator has suspended the channel’s broadcast license for 15 days after finding that it was broadcasting content during program marking periods. Muharram This may hurt religious sentiments and disrupt public order.The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said the channel aired “religious visual content” during its broadcast on June 26, adding that the material had the potential to offend viewers, disrupt religious harmony and raise law and order issues during one of the holiest and most sensitive periods in the Islamic calendar.Geo News later apologized, saying the video was unintentional and did not reflect the channel’s editorial policies or religious beliefs.The broadcaster said in a statement released on Sunday that the content was aired in error and has been removed from all its platforms.The channel said the visuals depicted religious rituals performed by some communities in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East and were intended only to illustrate local customs and not to endorse any particular religious interpretation.Pakistan remains highly sensitive over depictions of the Prophet Muhammad and other revered Islamic figures. Such issues have previously sparked widespread protests in the country, including demonstrations against cartoons published in parts of Europe.Religious tensions tend to rise during Muharram, prompting authorities to tighten security measures to prevent sectarian unrest and maintain public order.The regulator said Geo News failed to take sufficient editorial care before airing the programme. It has directed the broadcaster to conduct an internal investigation into the incident, while also referring the matter to the regulator’s complaints committee for further processing.Geo News is one of Pakistan’s largest private television broadcasters and has faced regulatory scrutiny before.The suspension comes amid continued international concern over media freedom in Pakistan. In recent years, TV channels have regularly faced suspensions, restrictions and other regulatory actions.Reporters Without Borders ranked Pakistan 153rd out of 180 countries in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index.
