LHC asks PEMRA to submit written reply | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

LHC asks PEMRA to submit written reply

By: Shahid Rao

RAWALPINDI — Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench Tuesday ordered Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to submit its written reply to a petition filed against the role of Pakistani media in criticising the Pakistani cricketers over the issue of betting in the test match.

However, LHC judge Justice Syed Akhlaq Ahmed rejected the application of the petitioner Advocate Tariq Asad to halt the media from reporting news about the scam till the final decision of the petition. The court asked the petitioner, who calls himself as chairman National Council for Human Rights, to provide the court with any relevant provision that allowed the court to stop the media from reporting any news item.

The petitioner made Secretary Information, Chairman PEMRA, chairman PCB and chairman Standing Committee on Sports in Senate as respondents and prayed to the court to direct the PEMRA to take legal action against the media for violating code of conduct while broadcasting the scam involving the cricketers.

The petitioner has also prayed that the Federal Government should be directed to replace the present chairman of PCB and take necessary action against him in the interest of the country.

Advocate Asad has contended before the court that the reputation of Pakistan and its cricket team was being besmirched and the local media was playing its part in the larger conspiracy against the nation.

He said the cricketing authorities should also be directed to explain why certain cricketers with no good past record had been included in the national team as they had allegedly been causing more harm to the national integrity.

He said PEMRA had failed to perform its duties well as TV channels had been airing the scam and ridiculing the cricketers when the allegations against the players were yet to be proven and the matter was under investigation.

He said the Standing Committee on Sports should also initiate the inquiry into the affairs of PCB and the responsible persons be brought to the book.
Source: The Nation
Date:9/1/2010