Lawyer Asma Jahangir had filed an appeal on behalf of MQM chief to suspend the Lahore High Court order. PHOTO: AFP
The two-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, subsequently disposed of MQM’s petition.
Asma Jahangir, along with three other lawyers, had filed an appeal on behalf of Altaf and party leader Farooq Sattar, contending the restriction was against fundamental rights and the Constitution.
She pleaded before the apex court to suspend the LHC, saying it was passed without deciding the question of maintainability of the writ petition.
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“Can the court pass directions to Pemra without giving an opportunity to receive and hear the complaint of the petitioners,” she had asked.
Justice Qazi Faez observed that freedom of expression did not mean people could say anything against state institutions.
At this, Jahangir said, “We are not stopping anyone from banning hate speeches, but the media blacked out Altaf Hussain’s activities.”
Advocate Azhar Siddique, representing the two lawyers who had filed petition against the MQM chief in LHC, informed the party had already filed an application before the court for vacating the September 7 order.
Altaf media blackout: MQM challenges LHC decision in SC
Justice Ejaz remarked that the September 7 order was interim and the applicant may pursue the case in the LHC for interpretation.
The LHC on September 7 had banned live broadcast of speeches and images of the MQM chief.
It had also directed Pemra and the additional attorney general to implement a ban across all electronic and print media.
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