Paying tribute to Asha Bhosle was costly, Pakistan’s Geo News was punished, PEMRA served notice

News India Live, Digital Desk: tune empress Asha Bhosle Showing respect for has become a cause of trouble for ‘Geo News’, one of the biggest news channels of Pakistan. media regulatory body of pakistan PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) has issued a stringent show cause notice to the channel. The controversy started when the channel paid tribute to the Indian singer in one of its programs, which fundamentalists and army supporters termed as an ‘anti-national’ act.

What is the whole controversy? Chaos over a tribute

Recently, Geo News aired a special segment in which Asha Bhosle’s contribution to the music industry and her magical voice were appreciated. Glimpses of some of his famous songs were also shown in the programme. As soon as the show aired, ‘pro-army’ accounts on Pakistan’s social media took issue with it. He argues that glorifying an Indian celebrity at a time when relations between India and Pakistan are tense is against Pakistan’s ‘national interest’.

PEMRA’s action: Cited ‘national dignity’

PEMRA has said in its notice that Geo News has violated the media code of conduct. The regulatory body alleges that the content of the channel hurts Pakistan’s ideological boundaries and national pride. An explanation has been sought from Geo News and if a satisfactory answer is not received, it has been warned of heavy fine or ban on broadcasting.

Pakistani army supporters attack on social media

Supporters of Pakistan Army are believed to have a big hand in this dispute. A campaign was launched on Twitter (X) against Geo News, calling the channel a ‘traitor’ and ‘supporter of India’. The protesters say that Pakistani media should focus on local issues instead of promoting Indian culture and artists. This is not the first time that Geo News has faced the wrath of Indian artists or the Pakistani establishment for talking about peace.

Art vs Politics: Intellectuals expressed regret

While on one hand the fundamentalists are protesting, on the other hand the liberal section and music lovers of Pakistan have expressed grief over this action. Many people on social media say that art and music have no limits. Asha Bhosle’s voice is loved across the borders, and paying tribute to her was just a cultural courtesy. Experts believe that this incident is another example of decreasing media freedom and increasing censorship in Pakistan.