Private channel Neo News has been slapped with a fine of Rs200,000 by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for airing 'derogatory and hateful' remarks by cricketer Abdul Razzaq and other guests against Pakistan women cricket team's member Nida Dar.
The remarks were made during the show 'G Sarkar' hosted by renowned actor Noman Ijaz.
While talking about women in sports and how marriage affects their career, Razzaq said: “They don’t get married because when they become cricketers, they try to be as equal as their men counterparts. By the time they achieve success, the feeling [to get married] is gone. He went on to say, “If you shake her [Dar’s] hand, she is anything but feminine.”
The clip had gone viral on social media where users condemned his 'misogynistic' remarks and criticised the host as well as the channel for disrespecting a woman who also happens to be a player of the national cricket team.
Following the backlash, tennis player Aisamul Haq Qureshi had submitted a complaint with PEMRA's Council of Complaints, asking the body to act against Neo News.
PEMRA's order imposing fine on Neo News for airing Razzaq's remarks states according to the complaint, the woman host on the show also "degrades and shames the career adopted by female cricketers, expressly stating that female cricketers mostly leave cricket when they get married".
In its order, PEMRA said that the remarks about women quitting cricket after getting married was a 'generalisation' and it would lead to discrimination against them.
The remarks were made during the show 'G Sarkar' hosted by renowned actor Noman Ijaz.
While talking about women in sports and how marriage affects their career, Razzaq said: “They don’t get married because when they become cricketers, they try to be as equal as their men counterparts. By the time they achieve success, the feeling [to get married] is gone. He went on to say, “If you shake her [Dar’s] hand, she is anything but feminine.”
The clip had gone viral on social media where users condemned his 'misogynistic' remarks and criticised the host as well as the channel for disrespecting a woman who also happens to be a player of the national cricket team.
Following the backlash, tennis player Aisamul Haq Qureshi had submitted a complaint with PEMRA's Council of Complaints, asking the body to act against Neo News.
PEMRA's order imposing fine on Neo News for airing Razzaq's remarks states according to the complaint, the woman host on the show also "degrades and shames the career adopted by female cricketers, expressly stating that female cricketers mostly leave cricket when they get married".
In its order, PEMRA said that the remarks about women quitting cricket after getting married was a 'generalisation' and it would lead to discrimination against them.