Pemra restrained from taking action against ARY News TV channel
MALIK ASAD
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court restrained the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Friday from taking any action against a private television channel which had aired footage of the June 14 attack on Quaid-i-Azam’s residency in Ziarat, Balochistan.
While issuing the restraining order, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui adjourned till August 30 hearing on a petition filed by the ARY TV channel.
The Supreme Court had taken notice of airing on Aug 13 of the footage and issued a notice to Pemra.
Subsequently, the regulator had issued show-cause notices to the ARY channel. It issued a final notice on Aug 19, but the TV channel requested Pemra to adjourn the matter.
The authority rejected the plea and concluded the proceedings for issuing an appropriate order.
Fearing an adverse decision, the ARY administration approached the IHC on Friday.
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, the counsel of ARY TV, informed the court that Pemra had issued notices on Aug 15 and asked the TV channel to clarify its position, but it could not hire a lawyer to plead the case.
He said Pemra had again issued notices, but the channel requested it to adjourn the hearing. Barrister Ahsan said Pemra had submitted a report to the Supreme Court without providing a chance of hearing to his client.
He argued that Pemra’s move was a violation of its own rules as well as fundamental human rights.
He requested the court not to take any action against the TV channel without providing it a chance of hearing. The court issued notices to Pemra and the ministry of information for Aug 30.
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