PEMRA amongst others accused of maligning judiciary

Petitioner alleges unchecked content is making a mockery of courts and their decisions

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday sought a reply from the federation and several key print and electronic media officials on a petition requesting the court to take action against those maligning judges belonging to the superior courts, as well as the judicial system.

Justice Aamer Farooq directed the federation, Ministry of Information & Technology, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBA), Pakistan Press Foundation and the Counsel of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) to submit a reply within a fortnight.



Petitioner Sardar Shahbaz Khosa has requested the court to issue directions to regulate broadcasts and control contemptuous content exposure. Khosa also added that broadcasts may be stopped until a final decision is taken and till then only fair broadcasting—restricted to the extent of reporting facts—will be transmitted.

He added that the respondents should be summoned to explain why the print, electronic and social media is allowed to ridicule state institutions, whereby also violating the license of broadcast.  The petitioner said that he had recently noticed that the print, electronic and social media was broadcasting judgments of the superior courts in a way that seemed purposely designed to malign the courts.  Without taking any names, he said that “the ruling elite of the country is mocking the judicial system of Pakistan.”

He added that individuals that have no legal expertise have been purposely allowed access to media platforms to offer their opinions on judicial determinations.

In addition, he said that live telecasts of supercilious political speeches—that have no check and balance of content—has irreparably damaged the judiciary.

The petitioner also said that airing unchecked content simply highlights the irresponsibility of state institutions while also ridiculing the judiciary and the Supreme Court.

Khosa said that this violation of law allows mala fide external private interests to weaken the federation and prayed the court to direct the respondents to act in accordance with the law and to follow the code of journalistic ethics, in both letter and spirit.