KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Monday temporarily banned Aamir Liaquat Hussain’s programme on Bol News ‘Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga’, Aaj News reported. 

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim has issued a warning stating that if the channel’s management does not cease airing the programme, the bench will initiate contempt of court proceedings against the channel as well as the anchor.

The country’s main media watchdog Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had banned Amir Liaquat's programme on Bol News after he leveled allegations of blasphemy against civil society activists and bloggers.

Pemra issued a notification on January 26 that stated, “Amir Liaquat and his programme has been banned with immediate effect for preaching hate.”

“Amir Liaquat, the host of the programme named Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga shall not host any programme or appear in any manner, including but not limited to, as a guest, analyst, reporter, actor, in audio, video beeper, promo/advertisement on BOL News,” the notice further read.

After ‘monitoring’ the TV anchor for several weeks, Pemra took this decision of banning the TV anchor reportedly.

The Pemra’s press release states, “During several weeks it has been monitored that Amir Liaquat host of the programme Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga, in the episodes broadcast on BOL News from January 2, 2017 to January 24, 2017, has willfully and repeatedly made statements and allegations which tantamount to hate speech, derogatory remarks, incitement to violence against citizens and casting accusation of being anti-state and anti-Islam, on various individuals.”

“In case of non-compliance of the above orders, the licence for the channel BOL News shall be suspended with immediate effect”, the notice further reads.

The Pemra further asserted, “Amir Liaquat is also prohibited from delivering any hate speech, declaring anyone Kaafir or Ghaddar on any TV Channel. In case of violation, action shall be initiated against such channel(s) under Section 27 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by the Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007.”

However, Bol television defies Pemra ban on Aamir Liaquat’s programme.

Later, Pemra on January 31 issued another show cause notice to Bol News for usage of "inflammatory, indecent and irresponsible" language.

Pemra, in its notification, said that Bol’s anchor Aamir Liaquat in his programme which aired on January 26, 2017, used such derogatory words “which could not be repeated here”.