*Seeks response from PEMRA for not taking action against defamatory programme against judges
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the plea of private news channel ARY News Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Iqbal and programme Khara Sach host Mubasher Lucman to adjourn the case pertaining to maligning of judiciary for one month and directed them to submit a reply in 10 days.
A three-member bench comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Mushir Alam resumed the hearing of the case.
During the course of proceedings, Iqbal and Lucman’s counsel Irfan Qadir appeared before the bench and sought one month time to reply.
He said that his clients appointed him as their lawyer on Monday so he could not submit a reply in the case.
The court directed the deputy attorney general to submit a reply over non-appointment of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman and also sought a response from PEMRA for not taking any action against the television channel which aired defamatory programme against superior court judges.
PEMRA counsel Ibrahim Satti told the court that the court had not issued any notice to the regulatory authority. He said that PEMRA would submit its reply and would put the real facts before the bench.
The court directed PEMRA, ARY News CEO and Lucman to submit a reply in ten days and adjourned the hearing of the case for two weeks.