SC seeks reply from PEMRA, Govt over public service messages

 

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought reply from the Federal Government and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority over Pakistan Army’s media cell.

A two-member bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Qazi Faez Isa, resumed hearing of the case.

Justice Ejaz Afzal said that court had not asked the federal government about what it had done to improve working conditions of journalists. “The federal government should not beat about the bush when dealing with cases as important as this one,” he said.

Chairman PEMRA Absar Alam told the court that they had issued notices to electronic media channels over airing public service messages.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed asked the chairman  the percentage breakout of how many minutes each channel runs public service messages.

The petitioner, Asma Jahangir said that the private sector, Information Ministry and ISPR control the media in the country. Earlier, she had requested the court that the ISPR should also be monitored.

After the federal government’s failure to submit a response, the court said that it could not issue a ruling.

The court adjourned the case for an indefinite period.