PEMRA has suspended license of ARY News Channel for 15 days citing orders of Lahore High Court. Earlier the authority had banned Mubashir Lucman, an anchorperson of ARY citing the same orders of Lahore High Court.

Justice Mazhar Ali Naqvi, through an order on 17th October had directed PEMRA to ban Mubashir Luqman from appearing on any channel of Pakistan. Justice Naqvi even ordered to arrest Mubashir Lucman and put his name on ECL. Following that order, police raided his home several times and reportedly harassed his family.

Lahore high court had taken a suo motto decision against Mubashir Lucman for interviewing Asim Malik in his Khara Sach program in a way that was considered derogatory towards the judges.

Chairman PEMRA, Pervez Rathore, convened a meeting and decided to put a ban on the news channel for 15 days. However, PEMRA rules of business state that any channel found in violation of PEMRA rules and regulation has to be served a show cause notice. Following a show cause notice, the channel in question has to be given fair chance to clarify its position.

However, in the case of ARY, the decision of license suspension came without following any of these prescribed steps.

Former Attorney General of Pakistan Irfan Qadir termed PEMRA decision a blatant violation of supreme court orders. While Barrister Aitizaz Ahsan said that ARY should have been provided a chance to clarify its position.

Former President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, also lamented this decision of PEMRA and said those who called him a dictator should explain whether banning media was a democratic move?