Geo Television Network on Tuesday apologised for the editorial lapse following a nation-wide uproar against controversial anti-Ahmadi remarks made during religious host Amir Liaquat Hussain’s morning show.
A spokesperson for the media group admitted that the network’s code of conduct was violated in the December 22 show.
Gunmen in Gujranwala had shot dead a member of the Ahmadi religious minority on Saturday, five days after a cleric denounced the community on Liaquat’s show. Luqman Ahad Shehzad was shot in the back of the head near Bhiri Shah Rehman village – a small community of Ahmadis in the Gujranwala district.
There was no apparent direct link between the two incidents. However, local media and civil society assailed the TV channel and the host of the show for inciting extremism and violence against the often-targeted religious minority.
The Geo spokesperson issued a ‘clarification’ available online today saying that a comment made by a guest during the “Subh-e-Pakistan” morning show had violated the network’s code of conduct. The spokesperson added that “during live transmissions it is difficult to control crowds and guests who speak according to their mindset”.
The spokesperson further said the group apologised for any offensive content, and a committee had been formed to ensure the implementation of policy in the breach of conduct.