IHC rejects application to stay PEMRA notification

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday rejected the application seeking immediate stay of PEMRA notification regarding media coverage of the court proceedings and sought responses from the respondents in the petition by May 28.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq was hearing the petition filed by Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA) President Fayyaz Mehmood and Press Associations of Supreme Court (PAS) President Aqeel Afzal against the notification issued by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

The plaintiffs’ lawyers, Barrister Umar Ijaz Gilani and Riasat Ali Azad, President of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA), appeared in court.

In its written order for the hearing, the court stated that according to the plaintiff’s counsel, PEMRA had restrained the television channels from covering the court proceedings through a notice dated May 19.

It was further stated that the lawyer had stated that the communication violated Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution because the parties involved were not consulted before its publication.

The court rejected the application for immediate stay and said that the notification must be implemented, but restrained PEMRA from taking legal action against television channels until the next date.

The court sought submissions from the defendants, including PEMRA, and adjourned the case to May 28.