Pakistani actor and host Ahsan Khan has been quite popular for his latest talk show Time Out With Ahsan Khan.
The actor interviews his fellow stars in the show and making it more fun for the viewers, he also got a segment of exciting games to be played with his guests.
The local TV channel’s show got popular for its content and controversies. As viewers criticized the the show’s segment in which, animals were used as the props and were being mishandled somehow.
The segment made headlines as some of the actors got offended while making those pets sit on their laps.
Recently, on a viewer’s complaint, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has taken notice of manhandling the animals in the show.
The regulatory body has imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 on the TV channel for using animals as props on its show.
Spokesperson of the Punjab Government Sarah Ahmad termed the decision a “landmark judgement on animal rights.”
According to Ahmed, imposing fine may prevent such acts in future by the channels and productions. The act caused unnecessary suffering and pain to animals and decision is plausible.
The complaint against the show was filed in March, 2021, that stated that the use of animals as props by the show’s team is not only ‘an offence under the law but a breach of constitutionally guaranteed right to life under Art. 9 of the Constitution as laid down by Islamabad High Court’. The statement further reads that the act is also an offence under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890.
