The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has initiated legal proceedings against a prominent national news broadcaster after it aired a detailed tribute to the legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle, who passed away in Mumbai on April 12, 2026.
The controversy arose on Monday when PEMRA issued a formal show-cause notice to Geo News. The regulatory body alleges that the channel’s broadcast—which featured iconic songs and cinematic clips of the late vocalist—violated a long-standing judicial ban on the airing of Indian content within Pakistani territory.
According to the official notice, the regulator characterized the tribute as a “wilful defiance” of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s 2018 ruling. This landmark judgment prohibited local television and radio stations from broadcasting Indian-produced entertainment, a measure largely influenced by the fluctuating diplomatic relations between the two neighbors.
PEMRA has demanded a written explanation from the network’s management within 14 days. The notice warns that failure to provide a satisfactory justification could result in severe penalties, including heavy fines, the suspension of the channel’s license, or its complete revocation under the PEMRA Ordinance.
In response to the legal pressure, Azhar Abbas, the Managing Director of the news channel, took to social media to defend the decision. He argued that celebrating the legacy of an artist as influential as Asha Bhosle is a standard journalistic practice worldwide.
“It has always been customary to celebrate the work of iconic artists when reporting on their passing,” Abbas stated. He further emphasized that art should remain a bridge between cultures rather than a casualty of political conflict. Abbas noted that Bhosle’s connection to Pakistan was deep, citing her public admiration for the Pakistani legend Noor Jehan and her collaborations with the late qawwali maestro Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Asha Bhosle, who was 92, passed away at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai following a chest infection and subsequent multi-organ failure. Her death has triggered a global wave of mourning, with fans across the Indian subcontinent reflecting on a career that spanned over eight decades and thousands of songs.
While the Pakistani government maintains strict regulations on “Indian content,” the move against the news channel has sparked a debate among the public. Critics of the notice argue that artists like Bhosle represent a “shared heritage of humanity” that transcends national boundaries. Conversely, supporters of the regulator insist that the rule of law regarding the media ban must be upheld regardless of the subject matter.
The CEO of the media group has been summoned to appear before the authority on April 27 to further address the allegations. As the legal process unfolds, the incident highlights the ongoing tension between cultural appreciation and the rigid media regulations governing the region. To know
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