ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) yesterday referred Maryam Nawaz’s complaint against Channel 24 programme ‘Khara Such’ host Mubasher Luqman to its Council of Complaints (CoC) for further action.

According to Authority’s statement, ruling party leader and prime minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz said in her complaint that the host of ‘Khara Such’ Mubashar Luqman leveled baseless allegations against her in his programme.

Luqman showed a photo in his programme alleging that in the absence of the prime minister, Maryam was chairing a meeting of the federal secretaries. She claimed in his complaint that the picture shown was of January 14, 2014, when she was chairperson of PM's Youth Loan Scheme and was chairing a meeting with regional heads of the National Bank of Pakistan in PM’s office for the future planning of programme.

Luqman showed a two and a half years old picture and claimed that she was issuing directives to the cabinet members and in the absence of her father Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had undergone heart surgery in London recently, was running the affairs of the state. "The anchor said that budget allocations were being made on the recommendations of Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

In the programme, the host claimed that Maryam also had the codes of Pakistan nuclear programme, which is not possible as per law and the Constitution. Leveling of such an allegation without any proof can raise several questions about Pakistan's security in the eyes of the world could rise.

Furthermore, the host and participants of the programme have portrayed Maryium as security risk to the country. The anchor and participants have leveled serious allegations against Mariyum and even termed her traitor. Pemra has been asked to take action against them. The Pemra has referred the complaint to its Council of Complaints for further action, the release concluded.