PTA, Pemra submit replies in IHC in PTM case
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and PEMRA have submitted their replies before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a petition filed against anti-state and anti-army rhetoric of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement.
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq conducted hearing of the petition seeking ban on PTM as the same has neither been registered as a political party nor any as a corporate body, just an association of persons.
Later, the IHC bench deferred the hearing till July 16 for further proceedings in the petition moved by Colonel (Retd) Javed Iqbal through his counsel Barrister Shoaib Razzaq.
Previously, the bench had directed Manzoor Pashteen, Mohsin Dawar, Ali Wazir, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Defense, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to submit their replies in this regard. It had also sought written response from the Ministry of Interior in this matter.
In his petition, Javed made federation through ministry of law and justice, ministry of interior, ministry of defense, PEMRA, PTA, PTM through its chairperson Manzoor Pashteen and lawmakers Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir as respondents.
The petitioner prayed to the court to direct federation and other concerned respondents to take appropriate action against PTM, Dawar and Wazir under the prevailing laws in the best interest of the country and to uphold the respect and prestige of Pakistan Army.
He prayed that the court may ban PTM which has neither been registered as a political party nor any as a corporate body, just an association of persons and all those are held responsible for maligning Pakistan Army and other state institutions be trial under appropriate criminal laws.
The petitioner requested the court to declare that Pashteen, Dawar and Wazir have committed gross violation of Code of Conduct, 2015 and PEMRA Ordinance 2002 and that the Respondent No. 5 (PTA) has failed to stop and act against their violations.
He further requested the court to declare that these people have used electronic media and social media for hate speech, incitation, abetting, glamorizing and or justifying violence, commission of crime, terror and which has lead to or will lead to serious public disorder. Therefore, they are liable to be banned for lifetime on all medium including but not limited to print media, electronic media and social media.
He was of the view that it should be declared that these people have maligned the state institutions and an attempt has been made to create division amongst the different ranks of Pakistan Army and therefore, the court may direct Respondent No.5 and 6 (PEMRA and PTA respectively) to take serious action against them and ban them from hosting, appearing in any manner, including but not limited to, as a guest, analyst, reporter, actor, in audio, video, beeper, promo/advertisement in any electronic media. Petitioner also sought court’s directions to PTA to immediately delete/block all social media accounts of the Respondent No. 4, 7 and 8 on all forums available on Internet or otherwise.
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