IHC requests a response from PEMRA about the prohibition of coverage of Imran’s court appearance.
PEMRA’s injunction, according to the former prime minister’s counsel, prohibits engaging in political action.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was served with a notice by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday asking for a response to the court’s order to cease covering Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan’s court appearance.
The petitioner’s attorney, Faisal Fareed Chaudhry, came before the court during the hearing and argued that PEMRA’s ruling is against engaging in political activities. The hearing was presided over by Judge Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb.
The attorney said, “PEMRA has exceeded its powers in the eyes of the law, and if this abuse of power is not prevented, the media regulating authority will act similarly in the future.”
Speaking to the petitioner’s attorney, the court said that the ex-prime minister was only barred from entering the judicial complex in Islamabad for one day.
“Banning for one day, one hour, or even three hours is outside PEMRA’s power,” the attorney responded.
Then Judge Aurangzeb said that the vandalism that had occurred that day needed to be addressed.
Nobody is willing to accept responsibility for the vandalism of public property. To not cover the incidents is the least that can be stated, he continued.
PEMRA was given notice by the court, and the case hearing was postponed indefinitely.
The live broadcast of events outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex, when the PTI leader showed up for a court hearing, was barred by PEMRA on March 18.
The media watchdog noted “with alarm” that “TV networks are airing live footages/images of violent crowd, attacks on police and law enforcing agencies” in reference to the conflicts between law enforcement officials and PTI supporters.
In a recent confrontation between members of political parties and law enforcement in Lahore, when a violent crowd used petrol bombs to injure unarmed officers and set police cars on fire, it was reported that such video was shown on television without any “editing scrutiny.”
