LAHORE: The ban imposed by Pakistan's media watchdog on reporting ongoing court cases in the country was challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on May 21 banned TV news channels from broadcasting news, opinion and commentary on the proceedings of ongoing court cases.
The ban has been imposed to prevent telecast of 'adverse comments' of judges in cases related to the interference of intelligence agencies in the judicial affairs of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Tension is rising between Shehbaz Sharif's military-backed government and the Islamabad High Court judge over alleged interference by intelligence agencies in judicial matters as the former has tried to force him to get desired verdicts in various cases, especially related to Imran. is charged. Khan and leaders of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).The PEMRA notification was issued on the day the Islamabad High Court questioned the country's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the alleged kidnapping case of Kashmiri poet Ahmed Farhad.
The poet's family has accused the ISI of abducting Farhad from his Islamabad residence over his critical social media posts targeting the army during the recent riots in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
During the proceedings of the case, the IHC criticized the role of the ISI and directed the authorities concerned to produce the missing poet within four days, failing which it warned of summoning senior government officials, including the Prime Minister.
Advocate Samra Malik on Thursday challenged the PEMRA notification in LH, calling it "illegal and violative of Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution".
He requested the court to declare the media regulator's 'illegal' notification as invalid and suspend the notification till the final decision on the petition.In its notification, PEMRA said: “TV channels are directed to avoid telecasting tickers/headlines regarding court proceedings and only report written orders of the court. Do not disseminate material including comments, opinions or suggestions regarding the possible fate of the case under consideration which would adversely affect the decision by the court, tribunal.
Journalist organizations have rejected PEMRA's ban, saying it violates the country's constitution.
Pakistan has seen an increase in media censorship in recent times and many are blaming the country's powerful military behind it.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on May 21 banned TV news channels from broadcasting news, opinion and commentary on the proceedings of ongoing court cases.
The ban has been imposed to prevent telecast of 'adverse comments' of judges in cases related to the interference of intelligence agencies in the judicial affairs of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Tension is rising between Shehbaz Sharif's military-backed government and the Islamabad High Court judge over alleged interference by intelligence agencies in judicial matters as the former has tried to force him to get desired verdicts in various cases, especially related to Imran. is charged. Khan and leaders of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).The PEMRA notification was issued on the day the Islamabad High Court questioned the country's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the alleged kidnapping case of Kashmiri poet Ahmed Farhad.
The poet's family has accused the ISI of abducting Farhad from his Islamabad residence over his critical social media posts targeting the army during the recent riots in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
During the proceedings of the case, the IHC criticized the role of the ISI and directed the authorities concerned to produce the missing poet within four days, failing which it warned of summoning senior government officials, including the Prime Minister.
Advocate Samra Malik on Thursday challenged the PEMRA notification in LH, calling it "illegal and violative of Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution".
He requested the court to declare the media regulator's 'illegal' notification as invalid and suspend the notification till the final decision on the petition.In its notification, PEMRA said: “TV channels are directed to avoid telecasting tickers/headlines regarding court proceedings and only report written orders of the court. Do not disseminate material including comments, opinions or suggestions regarding the possible fate of the case under consideration which would adversely affect the decision by the court, tribunal.
Journalist organizations have rejected PEMRA's ban, saying it violates the country's constitution.
Pakistan has seen an increase in media censorship in recent times and many are blaming the country's powerful military behind it.
