- Justice Siddiqui directs PEMRA chairman to rein in misleading media, says insulting Judiciary is akin to insulting Army
ISLAMABAD
ONLINE
“Judiciary too is a sensitive institution just like Army. One cannot just start speaking whatever it wants against the heads of Army and Judiciary,” Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of Islamabad High Court (IHC) remarked while hearing Shuhada Foundation case on Wednesday.
Justice Siddiqui said that just like televising programmes, against the military heads is an offence, targeting judges and their families by conducting programmes on them also falls under the purview of subverting the Constitution.
He inquired from acting Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairman Pervez Rathore if there were any PEMRA laws which could stop these programmes.
“Everything is there in the Constitution but no one implements them. The nation is being ruined by promoting Indian culture on media.”
Muhammad Tariq Asad, counsel for the petitioner, appeared in the court, Rana Shamim represented acting PEMRA chairman while Information Secretary Dr Nazir Saeed and Additional Attorney General (AAG) Tariq Mehmood Khokhar also appeared in the court.
Justice Siddiqui asked the information secretary why PEMRA rules were not being implemented.
The information secretary told the court that PEMRA has initiated action against some channels for violating its rules and their licenses have also been suspended.
Justice Siddiqui observed, “Censor boards have been set up for Pakistani films while no sensor board has been established for Indian films. What impression is being given to the nation by promoting Indian culture on media? People are being misled.”
The court while issuing notices to GEO and ARY TV channels adjourned the hearing of the case till July 9.