Geo News Faces Public Backlash as Claims Surface Over Voluntary 15-Day Suspension: Sources

Following the controversy surrounding Geo News’ program “Safar-e-Ishq,” various claims have been circulating on social media. Some commentators argue that if the content aired in the program violated the law, PEMRA’s code of conduct, or religious sensitivities, the regulator should first have issued a show-cause notice, conducted a full investigation, and heard the broadcaster’s response before taking any action.

According to sources cited by Baghi TV, however, Geo News itself requested a 15-day suspension of its transmission. The sources claim there were concerns that if the matter had proceeded through the normal legal process, the investigation would have taken time, while widespread public and religious protests, as well as possible unrest outside Geo News offices, could have escalated during that period. In this context, the channel allegedly opted to voluntarily seek a 15-day suspension.

Meanwhile, many social media users have stated that the content broadcast in the program deeply hurt public and religious sentiments, which they say explains the strong public reaction. These users argue that a 15-day suspension is far too lenient a penalty compared to what they describe as the seriousness of the alleged offense.