Muharram broadcast emotionally hurt! Broadcasting of Jio TV temporarily stopped in Pakistan

Geo News, one of Pakistan’s largest private news channels, has been taken off air. The channel will be off air for 15 days. It has been reported that such programs aired there during Muharram may hurt the religious sentiments of viewers. As a result communal harmony may be destroyed. And in this situation, a 15-day ban has been issued on the broadcasting of Jio TV. Incidentally, Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Which is one of the four sacred months of the year.

This ban has been announced by the ‘Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’ or Pemra. It is known that the program is called ‘Safar-e-Ishq’. The controversy is about the visual presentation of the events of Muharram and Karbala in the program broadcast on June 26. In fact, it is a sensitive issue as Sunni and Shia religious groups differ on this presentation. So this decision has been taken due to fear of hurting religious sentiments. But Pemra did not make it clear exactly which scenario they objected to. Besides, the authorities have also ordered an internal investigation against Geo News.

In response to this situation, Geo News removed the program from all their digital platforms. A public apology was also issued on Sunday. At the same time, they admitted an ‘editorial error’ during the Muharram special programme. They have also expressed regret for the broadcasted program. Note that Geo News is one of the most popular Urdu news channels in Pakistan. More than one and a half thousand workers are working in this institution. Pakistan, meanwhile, usually tightens security during the month of Muharram to prevent sectarian tensions between the Sunni and Shia communities. A close watch is also kept on the related posts on social media.