The Sindh High Court’s division bench has upheld the earlier decision of a single bench to suspend the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) notification issued on May 31, 2023.
Chief Justice Muhammad Shafiq Siddiqui and Justice Javad Akbar dismissed PEMRA’s subsequent appeal against this suspension.
In Karachi, the ongoing legal challenge against PEMRA’s attempt to ban coverage of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its founder has resulted in the court suspending not just the original May 31 notification but also a similar reissued notification dated November 11, 2023.
Read: PEMRA Bans Mockery of Police in TV Shows
During the proceedings, Barrister Ali Tahir, representing PTI, argued that the repeated issuance of such bans by PEMRA was both unconstitutional and contrary to its own regulations. He highlighted that as PTI is the largest political party in the country, restricting media coverage constitutes a violation of constitutional rights.
The division bench has directed the single bench to conclude and decide on this matter within six weeks, emphasizing the need for a swift resolution. Currently, there are no restrictions on the media coverage of PTI or its founder, following the court’s suspension of PEMRA’s notifications.
