Pemra’s appeal against suspension of telecast restrictions rejected

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday disposed of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) appeal against the high court’s single bench interim order that suspended Pemra’s restrictions on telecasting certain political activities and speeches on the electronic media in the wake of the May 9 incidents.

An SHC division bench headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui again referred the matter to the high court’s single bench for deciding it within six weeks.

Pemra had challenged the SHC’s single bench order in which it had suspended Pemra’s letter to media outlets about restrictions on telecasting certain political activities and speeches on the electronic media after the May 9 riots.

The court was requested to set aside the single bench interim order because it was issued without hearing Pemra. After hearing the arguments of Pemra and the defendant’s counsel, the court referred the matter to the single bench for deciding it within six weeks.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf office-bearer Mohammad Tehamas Ali Khan had earlier challenged Pemra’s direction to satellite TV channels to not promote any hatemongers, perpetrators and their facilitators inadvertently.

Khan said that the impugned letter does not mention either a political party or its leader, and only refers to zealots, adding that Pemra has asked TV channels to ensure that hatemongers, rioters and their facilitators are completely screened out from the media.

He said that no instance had been given to TV channels as to who was to be blocked out, adding that Pemra’s order empowers them to censor the political speech of anyone disliked by the government.

He also said Pemra had bypassed the Council of Complaints by issuing this prohibition order, adding that the order was passed to control the free media, and stifle political speech and activities.

Pemra had said in its order that the events of May 9 were aimed at “weakening the federation” by promoting anti-state sentiments. It said TV channels should refrain from providing airtime to individuals who propagate hate speech and provoke public sentiments against the federation and state institutions.