Islamabad/Lahore: The Lahore and Islamabad high courts on Friday issued notices to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on petitions challenging its notifications prohibiting television channels from airing news of court proceedings and directing them to only report on written orders.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Abid Aziz Shaikh conducted hearing on pleas challenging the media regulator authority’s order directing TV channels to not run reporting of court proceedings.
One petition has been filed by Azhar Siddiq and the other was filed by Advocate Samra Malik.
Petitioners argued that Pemra's ban is in violation of Article 10-A, 19 and 19-A of the Constitution of Pakistan. One of the pleas also requested the court to reject the prosecutor's plea and declare it "inadmissible".
Article 10-A pertains to the right to fair trial, while 19 and 19-A relates to freedom of speech and right to information.
The petitioners mentioned Pemra and the federal government as parties in its pleas.
The court ordered the electronic media watchdog to respond to its notice on May 29.
Meanwhile, the IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq also issued notice to PEMRA and secretary information on the petition by the IHC Court Reporter’s Association challenging its decision.
PFUJ moved the IHC against Pemra’s decision with the petition filed by Vice Chairman Islamabad Bar Council Adil Aziz Qazi.
The court adjourned the hearing on petition till May 28.
In a notification issued on May 21, the media watchdog directed all satellite news channel licensees that no content, including commentary, opinions, or suggestions about the potential fate of such sub-judice matter which tends to prejudice the determination by a court shall be aired.