Pakistan’s media watchdog has yanked the broadcast license of television channel Geo News for a 15-day period, citing content that aired during a program tied to Muharram — one of the most sensitive observances on the Islamic calendar.
The regulator determined that “religious visualisations” shown during the June 26 broadcast had the potential to offend religious sensibilities, damage interfaith harmony, and threaten public order.
In response, Geo News issued an apology on Sunday, stating that the material was broadcast unintentionally and does not represent the channel’s editorial stance or beliefs.
The issue of depicting the Prophet Mohammed or other revered Islamic figures carries enormous weight in Pakistan. The country has seen large-scale protests in the past triggered by cartoons published in Western nations, and religious disputes can rapidly inflame public anger across the Muslim-majority nation. During Muharram observances, Pakistani authorities routinely increase security measures.
Geo News, regarded as one of Pakistan’s biggest private broadcasters, confirmed that the footage in question has been pulled from all of its platforms. The channel explained that the video showed rituals observed by some communities in Iraq and the Middle East, and was meant to document local customs — not to promote any particular religious viewpoint.
The media regulator found that Geo News had failed to exercise proper editorial judgment and ordered the channel to launch an internal investigation. The case has also been forwarded to the regulator’s Council of Complaints for further review.
Pakistan has long faced scrutiny over the state of press freedom within its borders. Television broadcasters there have repeatedly encountered regulatory crackdowns, suspensions, and restrictions on their transmissions. Reporters Without Borders placed Pakistan at 153rd out of 180 countries in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index.
