Pemra stopped from conducting raids on cable operators
ISLAMABAD- Senior Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate Islamabad Arshad Ali has restrained the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) here on April 8, 2003 from conducting raids on the offices of cable operators in federal capital.
The Judge has issued these instructions in hearing of application filed by 25 cable operators of twin cities, it was learnt.
M/s Welkin International, Cable Network and Millenium Cable Operators had filed a restraining application with the Senior Civil Judge Islamabad few months back demanding to bar newly constituted media regulatory body from conducting raids on the offices flouting section 34 and 35 of the Pemra Ordinance 2000. Senior Civil Judge, through his verdict, termed the Pemra’s act as illegal and void.
Pemra had conducted several raids on the cable operators offices and also imposed heavy cash fines for allegedly airing Indian and porno movies to the subscribers of capital city, source said.
Government had earlier barred the cable operators across the country from exhibiting Indian channels in backlash of escalating Pak-India military stand-off.
Defence lawyer Syed Wastul Hassan Shah Advocate appeared in the court on behalf of petitioners i.e. 25 cable operators of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and Welkin International Cable Operator filed an appeal with the Senior Civil Judge Islamabad.
During the proceedings, Defence Advocate on behalf of the applicants argued that Pemra is itself violating the above mentioned sections of the Ordinance, as it has no authority to conduct sudden raids and impose fines on them.
The lawyer further argued that only the Magistrate 1st class could conduct this kind of raids and impose fine.
After hearing detailed arguments from the Defence lawyer, Senior Civil Judge Arshad Ali has barred the Pemra from such act and asked it to be careful in future.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:4/9/2003
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