Case Update Status

Sindh High Court ordered PEMRA to restore Bol News transmission.

Summary of Case

"On Setember 9, 2022 Bol unblocked; management condemns PEMRA. As Bol returned to the airwaves following a Sindh High Court order, the channel's managers condemned regulator PEMRA's action for arbitrarily suspending its transmission two days ago. PEMRA had blocked BOL News and BOL Entertainment Monday, saying the network did not have the required security clearance from the Ministry of Interior. ""We strongly condemn the action of PEMRA, and we will present all other unjustified and unlawful actions against BOL and its owners in front of the nation,"" BOL said in a statement. The management said it stood by its employees and would not remove anyone from the BOL family on anybody's wish or demand. It said that PEMRA imposed an illegal, arbitrary, and mala fide ban on false and concocted allegations even though the Ministry of Interior had issued proper security clearance to the owners of BOL. ""Also, the channel has already applied for the renewal of its license for its entertainment channel."" The statement said that if PEMRA did not restore the transmission of BOL channels, viewers could watch them on its official YouTube channel. Afzal Butt, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), called off a planned protest for the restoration of BOL. He greeted all union leaders, supporters, and BOL employees. A Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) delegation visited the BOL offices in Islamabad to greet the staff."

Category of Incident

Censorship

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

Reported By

Bol News

Date of incident

9

Month

September

Year

2022

Name of affected person

No other person was affected

Other affected persons

No other person was affected

Name of affected organization

Bol News

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)

City

Nationwide

Province

Nationwide

Designation

Organization

Professional category

Organization

Age of victim

Not Applicable

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: FIR was not registered

Court where case was presented: Sindh High Court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case closed

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Condemn

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Condemn

Employer organization

Condemn

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Condemn

Press club 2: N/A

Press club 3: N/A