SC orders PEMRA to issue license to Geo Super

RAWALPINDI: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry today ordered Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to issue a broadcasting licence to Geo Super immediately and submit the compliance report in three days, Geo News reported.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard Geo Super's appeal made in connection with the decision of the Sindh High Court here on Monday. The appeal also challenged PEMRA denial to issue a license to Geo Super on the pretext of having no security clearance.

Counsel of Geo Super Akram Sheikh said that SHC had admitted the channel’s claim as legitimate but issued no directives to PEMRA.

The Chief Justice during the hearing inquired as to what it was about the channel that still remained to be given a security clearance and how the other channels of Geo were running.

Bench member Justice Tariq Pervez in his remarks pointed out that perhaps news channels could be more sensitive but in this case what is surprising is that ‘an organization is being considered a security risk not for its news channel but for cricket or hockey’. It is like issuing a license for Kalashnikov and denying one for 32 barrel pistol, he added.

Counsel of PEMRA said security clearance had nothing to do PEMRA it was the concern of Interior Ministry.

The Chief Justice said PEMRA is bound to issue or deny a license within 100 days of submission of application. “But the application is still awaiting decision after a period of 100 days,” he expressed surprise.

Taking to task the acting chairman of PEMRA Abdul Jabbar, the Chief Justice asked why not PEMRA be issued a contempt of court notice for not abiding by the SHC verdict.

Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the SHC had decided the case against PEMRA, but PEMRA was defying the decision. “Defying the court verdicts seems to have become a fashion these days,” he remarked.

On this, Abdul Jabbar said he, being an acting chairman of PEMRA, was not authorized to issue a license.

The Chief Justice, in reply, said: “Then you better go home and let the regular chairman take care of the affairs of PEMRA.”

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry warned PEMRA that it could be fined Rs500,000 per day for failing to issue the license.