ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court while disposing of the petition against the PEMRA order banning the direct speech of Chairman PTI Imran Khan directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to regulate according to the Supreme Court’s decision.
The Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court, Athar Manullah, heard the petition against the PEMRA order banning Imran Khan’s direct speech. Barrister Ali Zafar appeared in the court on behalf of Imran Khan.
During the hearing, Pemra’s counsel informed the court that the purpose of issuing the show-cause notice was only to delay the speech.
The court asked the lawyer Pemra that why do you not implement the delay policy?
Justice Athar Manullah remarked that responsible people make irresponsible statements, you have to act according to the law, the court will not interfere.
Lawyer Pemra said that our instructions were not for any particular person, the court inquired whether you agree with the last order of this court. On which Pemra’s lawyer agreed with the court.
The court spoke to Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar not to make things difficult, irresponsible statements were also made on behalf of your client.
Meanwhile, the Pemra lawyer said that there is also a decision of the Supreme Court on delaying the broadcast of things on TV.
Barrister Ali Zafar said that PEMRA has to do what the Supreme Court has said.
The court asked Barrister Ali Zafar that the statement given by Imran Khan in the meeting last day is constitutional and correct? How can you say in public whether an army chief is a patriot or not? In which direction are you going, why are you damaging the constitutional institutions?
He further said that the kind of statements you are giving are creating problems for yourself, what message is being given to the world by your irresponsible statement, the statement made in public is under the category of Article 19. I don’t come either.
It was said by the court that one should think carefully about what everyone is doing. Everyone is subordinate to the constitution, everyone should take care of the constitution, if they make irresponsible statements, there will be consequences, political leaders influence their workers with any kind of statement, PEMRA Let the Supreme Court order be implemented.
Imran Khan’s lawyer said that PEMRA cannot ban the direct speech of only one person, on this the court remarked that if you make such irresponsible statements, how can it not be banned, one can say that Pakistan army is not patriotic to this country.
The court inquired why Pemra did not implement the time delay policy of the Supreme Court. The lawyer on behalf of Pemra replied that ‘We have made a mechanism to strictly implement the time delay policy and have also issued notices, we will implement the policy, this request should be dealt with.
In the remarks of the court, it was further said that on this kind of irresponsible statement, do you expect the court to grant a license? What is the current situation in the country, is the political leadership like this?
Chief Justice Athar Manullah said that should the country be put at stake for Game of Thrones, don’t expect any kind of relief from the court on the kind of things that are happening, the poor armed forces are getting martyred and you should give them Demoralizing.
Chief Justice Athar Manullah further said that if someone does illegal work, then everyone criticizes, make yourself accountable for what you want to do, keep saying whatever you want and the regulator should not even regulate. Do not expect relief from this is the prerogative of the court.
He said that every citizen is a patriot, no one has the authority to give this certificate, how can such a thing be said about the armed forces who are being martyred?
In the remarks of the court, it was further said that someone should make a statement about who is a patriot and who is not a patriot, then you say, give them an open leave. By making such a statement about the armed forces, do you Wanting to demoralize, can anyone say that there will be no patriots in the armed forces?
Chief Justice Athar Minullah further said that what was said yesterday can be justified? At present armed forces are rescuing people, can anyone justify this statement? When you make a statement in public, it has more impact.
Later, the Islamabad High Court disposed of Imran Khan’s petition by ordering PEMRA to be regulated in the light of the Supreme Court’s decision.
