The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) has demanded the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) withdraw its order to suspend the licence of 24NewsHD.

Condemning the Pemra act in a statement on Friday, PBA Association Chief Executive Muhammad Ali Butt said that by doing this Pemra has endangered the livelihood of hundreds of workers. The PBA demanded Pemra withdraw the order.

The statement reads: “On one hand, Pemra continues issuing new licenses in different categories of satellite TV although existing analogue cable system lacks the capacity, on the other it is suspending the transmission on the pretext of minor procedural issues.

“Instead of helping the existing players to survive in an unprecedented financial crisis, the authority is continuously following a strategy, which is against its own mandate and counterproductive for media growth

“The PBA demands Pemra withdraw the order and give the channel a fair and sympathetic hearing to resolve the issue.”