IHC orders Pemra to restore Geo to original position on cable TV

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Wednesday to restore Geo News to its original placements on TV channel ordering, days after the channel was illegally shut down or relegated to lower numbers.

The court ruled the Pemra would ensure that complaints of its meddling in TV channels’ broadcast were resolved. “The relevant officer needs to satisfy the court that Pemra is fulfilling its constitutional responsibility,” stated the court.

Earlier, the IHC issued notices to the Pemra and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan in a case related to the closure and relegation of Geo News to lower placements on TV channel ordering.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition submitted through Barrister Jahangir Jadoon by Raja Ahsan Mahmood Satti. Barrister Jadoon presented the arguments, stating media was one of the fundamental pillars of the society and that the matter pertained to freedom of expression and basic rights.

The barrister said if the government was irked by any action of the media, the platform of Pemra was there to raise the issue. In his arguments, the lawyer noted Geo News had faced similar issues in the past, adding it was the public’s prerogative to view the TV channel of their choice.

The barrister also presented before the court a few references from earlier rulings of the Supreme Court in relation to the subject. The IHC, following the arguments, issued notices to those nominated in the petition, including the secretary information technology, SAPM Awan and Pemra Chairman Saleem Baig.

The court has sought a response from the persons nominated in the case against the allegations. The court also asked the Pemra chairman to nominate a person from his side who could appear before it on the next hearing on March 24.

Barrister Jadoon told the media after the hearing he had raised the question in court regarding Geo News being targeted. “People pay fees to cable operators so that they can view the channel of their own choice,” said Jadoon. He said earlier Pemra had assured before the SC it would not disturb Geo News, adding the IHC had summoned Pemra officials to respond on March 24 in that regard. The lawyer added the IHC was also notified about the channel being relegated to lower numbers within the court premises as well.

Senior anchor Hamid Mir also addressed media, where he said they had evidence of cable operators being asked to push the channel to lower numbers and would provide information before the high court on the next hearing. The senior journalist further said the barrister had provided the reference to similar petitions to the apex court, in which the court ruled Pemra should objectively look after every TV channel’s interests.

In one of the previous cases before the SC, the Pemra had issued a statement related to not disturbing the sequence of channels. On March 13, cable operators throughout Pakistan started receiving orders to immediately shut down Geo TV’s broadcast or relegate the channel to lower numbers in TV channel listings.

The instructions were issued right after SAPM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan concluded her press conference pertaining to the arrest of Jang Group/Geo Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman.

It was reported the closure of Geo News came on directives from Pemra, but the media watchdog chairman himself denied he had issued any orders to that effect.