TV channel petition hearing adjourned
KARACHI, Nov 12: The Sindh High Court adjourned on Monday a petition moved by a media organisation on behalf of its four television channels ‘to a date in office for want of time’.
The petition, filed by the Independent Media Corporation against the ban clamped on its Geo News, Geo Super, Geo Entertainment and Aag channels, came up for hearing as an urgent matter after discharge of regular cases in the afternoon.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Mahmood Alam Rizvi called Deputy Attorney-General Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui after hearing the petitioner’s counsel, Mohammad Ali Azhar.
The counsel submitted that the impugned ordinance amending the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Act was issued by the president under Article 89 of the Constitution and was amenable to challenge for repugnance to constitutional provisions. It violated not only the suspended Article 17, which guarantees the freedom of expression, but also the enforceable Article 18, which ensures freedom of trade, business and profession.
The punishment (of ban), he argued, was imposed before the alleged commission of a newly-created offence under the ordinance. In fact, there was no occasion for violation of the ordinance because the channels were taken off the air before its promulgation.
The Pemra has allowed even news channels of other organisations to resume transmissions while its sports and entertainment channels remain shut.
DAG Rizwan Siddiqui said he had no notice or copy of the petition. In his opinion, certain channels were indulging in sensationalism aimed at destabilising the country.
Talking from personal experience, he said, an eveninger of the petitioner organisation brought out a special supplement to flash a bogus report that he had been picked and beaten up by police. The report defamed the country and he received phone calls from world capitals.
The law officer assured the bench there would be no deviation from the law and he would seek instructions from the respondent information ministry and the Pemra.
The bench asked the DAG to seek instructions in respect of the non-news channels, and adjourned further preliminary hearing to 4.15pm.
The petitioner’s counsel learnt when he went to the courtroom at 3.30pm that the hearing had been put off to a date in office for paucity of time.
Source: Dawn
Date:11/13/2007
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