Judiciary will not allow maligning of state institutions

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  • IHC orders cable operators to restore Geo transmission
  • Observes that cable operators, not intelligence agencies, are responsible for termination of Geo transmission
  • Says Army and judiciary are sensitive institutions and nobody should point fingers at them
  • Directs PEMRA officials to ‘go home’ if they cannot prevent private channels from maligning state institutions
  • ARY anchor Lucman ordered to review his own show and inform court if he thinks what he is doing is right or wrong

Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to restore the transmission of private television channel Geo till midnight on Tuesday adding that it is cable operators, and not an intelligence agency, which have suspended Geo transmission in some parts of the country.

Presiding over a single bench of the IHC on Tuesday, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui ordered that licences of cable operators who do not restore Geo transmission within the designated time will be revoked.

The court observed that the transmission of Geo is suspended in some parts of the country due to cable operators but allegation of the closure of the transmission is levelled against an intelligence agency. Moreover, the court observed that it is being said that an intelligence agency is providing material to a specific private television channel.

He said that protecting national institutions is the judiciary’s domain adding that some private television channels were maligning judiciary and intelligence agencies.

The judge said that the court cannot allow any private television channel to indulge in mudslinging against head of any institution.

The judge remarked that some anchors have made the judiciary “football” and programmes are launched against the judiciary but no one is taking action against those private channels due to PEMRA. He said the maligning of state institutions, including army and judiciary is continuing due to the negligence of PEMRA adding that if PEMRA members have become so helpless they should go home.

While observing that it is the judiciary’s job to ensure sanctity of state institutions, Justice Siddiqui said that some time former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice (r) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and some time Justice (r) Jawwad S Khawaja are targeted.

“If the judiciary will not safeguard national institutions then who else can do so?” Therefore, the court ordered that PEMRA should implement its code of conduct forthwith and action should be initiated against private channels maligning state institutions.

“The institutions are being destroyed due to our internal strife,” Justice Siddiqui remarked, adding that media is also part of Pakistan and judiciary and army are also institutions of Pakistan.

“No one has the courage to talk against RAW, CIA and other intelligence agencies, then why are our own national institutions being targeted,” observed the jugde.

The court enquired from PEMRA counsel if he had ever taken action against the advertisement being flashed on a channel with reference to children or women or any film in which Indian material is being used. “There should be no violation of law. All the institutions should perform their function as per law and constitution,” the court observed.

A single bench of the court comprising Justice Siddiqui took up for hearing petition filed by District Bar Islamabad President Naseer Ahmad Kiani against private television channel ARY.

The court sought report from PEMRA, ordered notice to ARY Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Suleman Akbar to appear before it and issued notices to other parties concerned.

Petitioner’s counsel Syed Nayab Hassan Gardezi, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Tariq Mehmood Khokhar, PEMRA counsel Rana Ahmad Hassan counsel, ARY anchorperson Mubashar Lucman and Sabir Shakir appeared in the court.

The court directed Lucman to watch his own program “Khara Sach” and give a written reply whether he considers what he is doing to be right or wrong.

Politicians and rulers should be discussed but no harm should be allowed to be caused to national security institutions, the court remarked.

The court issued notices to PEMRA, private television channels ARY, GEO, CPNE, Pakistan Broadcasting, ARY CEO Akbar and others and adjourned the hearing of the case till September 22.