Maryam-led SMCC: SC seeks reply on media cell at PM House

Plea says the cell is assailing opposition parties on social, mainstream media

ISLAMABAD: The top court has sought a reply from the federal government over the functioning of Strategic Media Communication Cell (SMCC), led by Maryam Nawaz in the prime minister office, for promoting members of the ruling party and for criticizing those of the opposition on social and mainstream media.

The two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan while hearing media commission case on Wednesday took strong exception over PEMRA for not restricting TV channels to allocate 10 per cent of total airtime to beam public service messages.



PEMRA chairman Absar Alam submitted that the managements of TV channels are opposing the PEMRA’s law, which restricts them to allocate ten percent time for social messages. Absar also stated that 350 cases against PEMRA are pending in high courts. The bench was also surprised to know that working journalists have not been included in the regulatory authority and most of the members are either government servants or have political affiliation with the ruling party.

A journalist, Asad Kharral, told the bench that he has moved a miscellaneous application against the media cell (SMCC) led by Maryam Nawaz functioning in PM office. He further submitted that the cell is part of ministry of information and its budget allocation is Rs20 million for the current financial year. Kharral also said that the cell is defaming opposition parties’ leaders on social media. Upon this, the bench asked additional attorney general Chaudhry Amir to submit a reply on the next date of hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2016.