Geo News lands in trouble with Pakistan’s media regulator over coverage of Asha Bhosle death
Pakistan’s media regulator has issued a show-cause notice to Geo News after the channel aired what it described as “Indian content” during its coverage of the death of iconic playback singer Asha Bhosle. The move has revived long-running tensions over the broadcast ban on Indian programming in the country.
A prohibition on Indian content has been in force since 2018, and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said Geo News violated that restriction by running Indian songs and film visuals while reporting on Bhosle’s passing. The regulator called the broadcast a “wilful defiance” of a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the ban.
Bhosle, one of the most celebrated voices in South Asian music, died on Sunday at the age of 92 due to multi-organ failure.
Geo News, widely viewed as being aligned with the PML-N government and the military establishment, aired a short tribute segment featuring clips from Bhosle’s work. PEMRA has demanded an explanation from the channel and warned that penalties could include fines or suspension.
Geo News Managing Director Azhar Abbas publicly defended the editorial decision, saying the channel followed a long-standing journalistic tradition.
“It has always been customary to revisit and celebrate the work of iconic artists when reporting on them. In fact, for an artist of Asha Bhosle’s stature, we should have shared even more of her timeless and memorable songs than we did. Yet, Pakistan’s electronic media regulator, PEMRA, has chosen to restrict this,” he wrote on X.
Abbas argued that artistic legacy should not be constrained by political boundaries.
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“Art, like knowledge, is a shared heritage of humanity, and it should not be confined by borders.”
He also highlighted Bhosle’s deep cultural ties to Pakistan.
“Asha Bhosle herself admired Pakistan’s legendary singer Noor Jahan, whom she fondly called her ‘elder sister.’ She collaborated with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and brought to life the poetry of great Urdu poets like Nasir Kazmi.”
Abbas added that cultural expression should not become collateral damage in geopolitical disputes.
“In times of war and conflict, art and artists should not become casualties. Intellectuals, musicians, and creators are often the very voices that stand against hatred and division, and the ones who bring people closer together.”
The notice has sparked debate within Pakistan’s media community, with some journalists arguing that the regulator’s stance undermines shared artistic heritage across the region.
