Islamabad High Court allows Geo Tez to go on air | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Islamabad High Court allows Geo Tez to go on air

By: Faisal Kamal Pasha

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday permitted ‘Geo Tez’ to air its transmissions.

IHC judge Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi decided the civil miscellaneous (CM) petition filed by the Independent Newspapers Corporation (INC), and allowed the channel to go on air conditioned with the outcome of the matter pending with the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Counsels for the INC, Akram Sheikh Advocate and Nadeem Ahmad Advocate, contended before the court that an IHC bench in its previous order had directed Pemra to change the name of Geo English to Geo Tez and also change the language from English to Urdu within 30 days. After the said orders, INC paid the required fee within two days but Pemra did not allow Geo Tez to air its transmission even after the lapse of four months after the decision.

Counsel for Pemra, Afnan Karim Kundi, told the court that three different TV channels with similar contentions had filed petitions and IHC bench had only allowed INC to transmit its broadcasts. The verdict was challenged in the Supreme Court that was pending for adjudication. Upon this, Akram Sheikh Advocate told the court that two TV channels whose applications were rejected sought relief from the Supreme Court that was provided to them and now the two channels had started their transmissions.

Advocate Sheikh requested the court to allow the INC to go on air conditioned with the outcome of the apex court orders. “If the apex court decides against us, we will immediately stop the transmission,” he said.

Pemra counsel, however, said that the status quo should be maintained till final outcome in this matter. The IHC judge while conceding to the arguments of INC counsels allowed its applications.

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