IHC serves notice to PEMRA on court coverage ban

Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) regarding a ban on court coverage. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard a petition challenging the ban and restrained PEMRA from taking action against TV channels. The court has adjourned the hearing until May 28, after four petitions were filed against PEMRA’s notification.

PEMRA, Court coverage, IHC, notice served
khabristan.pk
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday served a notice to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) over ban on court coverage, ARY News reported.

As per details, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petition filed by the Journalists Association, challenging the authority’s notification and restrained PEMRA from taking disciplinary action against TV channels.

Furthermore, the hearing on the petition against the PEMRA notification has been adjourned until May 28.

The Islamabad High Court has issued notices to PEMRA and the Secretary of Information, and the petitioners, including Barrister Omar Ayaz Gullani, appeared in court. The President of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, Riasat Ali Azad, also appeared before the court.

The development came after four petitions were filed against Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) notification prohibiting TV channels from news of court proceedings.

The petitions mentioned as respondents the Pemra chairman and director general, the federal government through the secretaries for interior and law and parliamentary affairs.

The petitions called for the Pemra notification to be suspended, set aside and declared illegal.

According to a notification issued by the ele­ctronic media regulator on Tuesday, all news channels have been barred from airing material about ‘ongoing court cases’ until a final verdict is announced.

The media regulatory authority imposed ban on news regarding subjudice cases and directed the channels to only air information that is in the public interest.

PEMRA also directed the media outlets to avoid expressing their ‘opinions on subjudice cases’. It also warned against discussing ongoing court cases in TV programmes in a way that could ‘influence’ investigations or the trial.

The regulatory body has emphasised that only information that is deemed necessary for the public will be allowed to be disseminated through media channels.

In a recent development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has put the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on notice regarding the ban on live coverage of court proceedings. The court has taken a strong stance over this ban, highlighting the importance of transparency and public access to legal proceedings. This move by the IHC not only underscores the fundamental principles of media freedom and open justice, but also raises critical questions about the balance between responsible reporting and preserving the integrity of legal processes. As discussions around the intersection of media, law, and public interest continue to evolve, this ongoing issue between the IHC and PEMRA is set to have far-reaching implications for the media landscape and legal governance. The coming days are likely to witness intense debates and legal scrutiny revolving around the delicate balance between media freedom and the administration of justice.

Source: ARY NEWS

Summary:
Islamabad High Court serves notice to PEMRA over ban on court coverage. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq hears petition challenging notification and restrains disciplinary action against TV channels. Hearing adjourned until May 28. Notices issued to PEMRA, Secretary of Information, and petitioners. Four petitions filed against Pemra’s notification. Ban imposed on news regarding subjudice cases. Media outlets directed to air only public interest information and avoid expressing opinions on ongoing court cases. Regulatory body emphasizes dissemination of necessary public information. (100 words)

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