VisionTV has banned a Pakistani imam from its programming and is promising a full review of its standards and practices following two broadcasts of the ‘paid faith’ program Dil Dil Pakistan.

On July 14, the show aired a lecture by Israr Ahmad, a controversial Islamic preacher who reportedly called on viewers to wage jihad ‘either with your financial resources or your bodily strength’ against the enemies of Allah. His appearance prompted a number of complaints, leading to a July 20 statement in which Vision president and CEO Bill Roberts pledged to ‘redouble our efforts’ not to allow programming that encourages religious hatred or violence.

One day later, the show aired a second Ahmad lecture.

Vision now says the imam has been banned from the channel, and a spokesperson tells Playback Daily that the show, though it will continue in its usual timeslot, is ‘going to be on watch.’

The channel is promising to put a formal apology on air shortly, following consultation with groups including the Canadian Jewish Congress, and that it will seek feedback from the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.

Dil Dil Pakistan is produced out-of-house and, according to Vision spokesperson David Todd, is part of the ‘paid faith programming’ that makes up roughly 50% of the channel’s schedule. The airtime is purchased by companies and religious groups. Dil Dil Pakistan comes from the Alberta-based Islamic Academic Foundation, according to Todd. The organization could not be reached for comment.

In a second statement, issued Monday, Roberts called the second appearance by Ahmad ‘an unacceptable failure of process’ at Vision, adding that the channel will form a task force of religious leaders, its board and managers to review its procedures.