Pemra ordered to produce record, transcript of speeches

Court questions why Pemra did not stop such content from going on air

LAHORE: A full bench of the Lahore High Court sought a detailed report on steps taken by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on complaints against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz for delivering alleged anti-judiciary speeches.

The bench questioned as to why Pemra did not act when it had a mechanism to deal with such issues.

The bench comprising Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Atir Mahmood and Justice Chaudhry Masood Jahangir is the fourth bench that took up the matter on different petitions seeking a ban on the broadcasting of alleged contemptuous speeches.

The petitioner's counsel Azhar Siddique implored the court that PML-N's leaders were delivering anti-judiciary speeches and Pemra was just a silent spectator over the issue.

The bench remarked that Pemra acted quickly on some matters while remained silent on others. The bench also questioned whether Pemra was dictated by someone where take an action or where to keep mum.

The bench said the applications were pending with Pemra for seven months but no action was taken.

The judges also remarked that Pemra took notice of some protesters in Islamabad but was silent on those delivering anti-judiciary speeches.

However, Pemra presented a record of some CDs of anti-judiciary speeches. Meanwhile, former PM's counsel advocate AK Dogar submitted his power of attorney. The bench will resume proceedings by April 16.

In earlier proceedings, Advocate Azhar Siddique, the counsel of the petitioners Munir Ahmad and Amna Malik, said Pemra failed to fulfill its duty to control broadcasting of contemptuous speeches.

The petitioners allege that the Pemra has failed to act as an independent regulator and became a subordinate body of the government. They argue that the Pemra officials needed to realise that they are not working on the PML-N’s payroll and have to protect citizens of Pakistan and the institutions in every regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2018.