IHC, LHC dismiss pleas for ban on Geo, Jang Group | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

IHC, LHC dismiss pleas for ban on Geo, Jang Group

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here on Friday dismissed the petition of a local journalist, seeking ban on Geo television.

The petitioner named the Federation of Pakistan through secretary Ministry of Defence, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Mir Ibrahim Rehman, chief executive officer Geo TV, Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, Amir Mir, Ansar Abbasi, Imtiaz Alam, Najam Sethi, Muneeb Farooq, Idrees Bakhtiar, Umar Cheema, Iftikhar Ahmad, Asma Shirazi and Dr Amir Liaquat as respondents.

The petitioner through his counsel adopted before the court that it is necessary for the safety and security of the country that the spy agencies keep working in an efficient way. That the functioning of electronic media is very important due to the fact that most people in this country are illiterate and cannot read newspapers.

He said that according to Pemra rules the judiciary and armed forces could not be criticised over television networks.The petitioner alleged that Geo Television has violated Pemra rules while criticising the armed forces of Pakistan after an attack over its anchor person Hamid Mir. He prayed to the court to cancel Geo TV’s licence.

The court however dismissed the petition without hearing.Our correspondent from Lahore adds: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday dismissed a petition filed by anchorperson Mubashar Lucman for high treason proceedings against the administration of Geo and Jang Group.

The judge remarked if the petitioner wanted to initiate proceedings against the respondents under Article 6 of the Constitution, he should approach the federal government because under the relevant law, only the federal government was competent to start treason proceedings.

Lucman had also sought cancellation of declaration of the Jang and The News and cancellation of licence of Geo TV for leveling baseless allegations against ‘the most respectful and credible institution of the country’.

The News