Anti-judiciary speeches: LHC orders respondents to submit replies by 27th

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LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday expressed displeasure over the non-submission of a report by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on airing alleged inflammatory speeches of 16 PML-N leaders, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

Justice Shahid Karim of the LHC heard the petition filed by a civil society member Amna Malik seeking court injunctions against the regulatory authority over coverage of anti-judiciary speeches of the ruling party leaders.

During the court proceedings, the one-member bench directed all respondents to submit their replies by the next hearing on March 27.

In the previous hearing of the case, the bench had directed PEMRA to submit a report encompassing recommendations and measures as how to stop airing of anti-judiciary speeches by PML-N leaders.

Advocate Azhar Siddique, the petitioner’s counsel, at the last hearing contended that the PML-N leaders have been instigating people against the judiciary by announcing a rebellion against it.

He pleaded with the judge to pass orders to the electronic-media regulatory body to impose a ban on coverage of contemptuous speeches of the PML-N leaders.

The petitioner’s counsel submitted that Sharif and his daughter had been severely criticising the judiciary in their public speeches but the regulatory body had failed to take measures to stop airing of anti-judiciary speeches.