ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Absar Alam to depute an officer, not less than rank of director, to explain under which authority, it imposed ban on programme “Live with Dr. Shahid Masood” for 45 days.
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzaib issued notice to the PEMRA for August 17 after hearing the arguments by Faisal Chaudhry, counsel for the petitioner in an appeal moved by ARY Media Communications (PVT).
Chaudhry argued that Chairman violated the PEMRA rules while banning the programme as he took suo-motu notice of the programme whereas rules says that until any complaint, no action would be taken.
He further said that as per law, authority could only impose fine maximum to Rs 10 million or could warn the respondents instead of banning telecast of the programme.
Counsel said that his client on July 19 also wrote a letter to the chairman PEMRA in response of the Show-Cause letter and said that in his programme Shahid Masood never targeted any judge or citied any name in his and denied the allegations. He further requested to set aside the orders.
Earlier, the PEMRA imposed a 45-day ban on the ARY News programme ‘Live with Dr. Shahid Masood’, arguing that Dr Shahid Masood alleged in a programme aired on June 22 that the son of the Sindh High Court Chief Justice was kidnapped because the Chief Justice took a bribe and then did not make good on his promises.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the PEMRA also said that a Show-Cause notice was issued on July 19 and the ARY News was given seven days to respond but the reply received on July 23 was “unprofessional” and no apology was tendered.
