IHC bars PEMRA from taking action against TV channels

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) restraining it from taking disciplinary action against television channels.

The court’s decision comes in response to a joint plea filed by the Journalists Association and the Press Association of the Supreme Court.

IHC Chief Justice Justice Aamer Farooq heared the plea while Barrister Omar Aijaz Gilani and President of Islamabad High Court Bar Association Riasat Ali Azad represented the applicants before the court.

Subsequently, the court issued a notice to PEMRA and the information secretary, setting a hearing date on May 28.

The court has also issued a written order, preventing PEMRA from interfering with journalistic reporting. The order emphasised that according to the applicants, PEMRA’s notification was contrary to Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution. Furthermore, the court highlighted that according to the applicants, issuing the notification without consulting the relevant parties violates rules and regulations.

PEMRA’s notification, issued on May 21, had banned news or tickers related to pending court cases. The regulatory body had directed all news, current affairs, and regional language TV channels to refrain from running tickers and news regarding pending court cases and also not to report news of court written orders.

However, the petitioners argued that PEMRA’s notification was violative of Article 19 and 19A of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression and access to information.

They contended that the decision of the Supreme Court was misinterpreted in the notification, and demanded that the notification be declared unconstitutional and suspended till the final decision on the petition.

Journalistic organisations had earlier rejected PEMRA’s notification, terming it an attack on press freedom and the independence of the judiciary. They had warned that if PEMRA did not withdraw the notification, they would challenge it in court.