SC sets aside contempt notice to Pemra, summons BOL news management

The SHC granted stay to Labbaik Private Limited against Pemra's order of prohibiting Aamir Liaquat as a show host

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court set aside on Tuesday a contempt notice issued to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman and summoned BOL news management on February 6.

A three-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan set aside all contempt notices issued to Pemra chairman by the Sindh High Court (SHC).

The bench also issued notices to the management of Labbaik Private Limited (BOL TV) to appear before the court on February 6, said a statement.

چیئرمین پیمرا کو جاری توہین عدالت کے نوٹسز خارج، سپریم کورٹ نے بول نیوز انتظامیہ کو 6 فروری کو طلب کر لیا pic.twitter.com/UPeWGFjr2o

— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) January 31, 2017

The orders were issued in an appeal filed by Pemra against an order of SHC which granted stay to Labbaik Private Limited against Pemra's order of prohibiting Aamir Liaquat, as a host, and his programme 'Aaisy Nahi Chalay Ga' from airing until the decision of Councils of Complaints. Eminent lawyers Zahid Kakharuddin and Kashif Hanif represented Pemra in the case.

The media watchdog had banned Aamir from appearing on any TV show for “preaching hate”.

“Aamir Liaquat is prohibited from delivering, on all other channels, any hate speech, declaring anyone as ‘kaafir’ or ‘ghaddar’, as under the Constitution of Pakistan, it is the exclusive jurisdiction of parliament or the honourable Superior Judiciary,” Pemra had said.

Earlier, Pemra chairman Absar Alam in the 124th meeting of the Pemra on Tuesday briefed the members about the organisation's way forward regarding the pursuance of case against Aamir Liaquat and his programme.



Pemra is resolved, he said to bring the matter to its logical end. There is no room for hate speech on any electronic media channel, he said, adding that the matter will be dealt in accordance with the Pemra’s Code of Conduct 2015.

The authority also noted that a case filed against the chairman in a police station of Karachi might have mala fide intentions and must be pursued in an effective manner.