SC asks PEMRA if it has taken notice of TV programs defaming judiciary

We will show you advert­isemen­ts, you tell us if they are obscen­e or not, says chief justic­e to PEMRA.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan, hearing applications filed against “obscene content” being aired on television channels, asked Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra) if it had taken any notice of programs defaming the judiciary.

The applications were filed by ex-Ameer of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, and Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed of the Supreme Court, who has recently joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

The three-member bench hearing the applications rebuked Pemra’s performance in this regard, while Justice Jawad S Khwaja remarked that the regulatory body never does anything concrete.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said to Pemra that the bench will air TV advertisements and Pemra will be made to decide if they are obscene or not.

Chairman Pemra told the bench that one Dish TV can be bought from markets at the price of Rs3,000-4,000, on which everything can be watched.

Pakistan Broadcasters Association and cable operators were also made respondents in the application. The hearing has been adjourned till September 17.