ISLAMABAD – Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday warned against underestimating Supreme Court’s powers, saying people doubting the apex court’s authority should avoid such thinking.
The CJP was heading a three-member bench that included Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani and was hearing a contempt of court petition filed by Independent Media Group (Geo TV) against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
The court agreed to suggestions made by the petitioner’s counsel Muhammad Akram Sheikh and nominated former information minister Javed Jabbar to monitor the services of cable operators in the country to ensure the broadcast of the remaining Cricket World Cup matches on Geo Super TV channel without any hindrance.
The court also said that Javed Jabbar might bring to the notice of PEMRA any violations by cable operators. Sheikh submitted that PEMRA was not implementing the court’s order in letter and spirit and had not yet taken action against cable operators, causing disturbances in the transmissions of GEO Super.
He told the court that Geo Super constantly went off the air or its position was changed, most particularly in Lahore, by some 2,700 cable operators. “[It] all happened in collaboration with the PEMRA chairman,” he alleged, stating further that he would surrender the case if he was proven wrong.
He stated that complaints were made to PEMRA authorities but to no avail and now the petitioners feared that cable operators would cause further disturbance to Geo Super in the remaining matches of the World Cup. Ali Raza, counsel for PEMRA, replied that PEMRA had taken action against 76 cable operators on Geo TV’s complaints and while seized their equipments and cancelled their licenses.
“There should not be any disturbance as everyone’s rights are protected, as guaranteed by the constitution,” the CJ said. The court adjourned the hearing till April 8.
