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Summary Islamabad High Court has issued directives to PEMRA to take action on this count.
The court issued notices to chairman PEMRA and secretary ministry of information and broadcasting and directed them to appear before it in person on October 15 and present details of code of conduct with reference to media.IHC single bench comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui took up for hearing petition filed by senior lawyer Nadim Ahmad Tuesday.Akram Sheikh advocate, counsel for petitioner argued that insulting material was being broadcast/telecast through media against the judiciary while PEMRA and ministry of information were taking no action against it.Judiciary was got liberated through historical struggle of nation, he said. Judges of superior judiciary were not above constitution like other citizens and their accountability comes possible under article No 5 of the constitution but like other citizens they have right to be protected against the defamation.He prayed the court to issue directives to PEMRA and information ministry to stop publication and telecasting of interviews and press conference from TV channels in the country and news papers and revoke licenses or declaration of violators of this order.Citing to different press conferences held against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) some time back defence counsel said due to them a new rumor was circulating since the last week that a new press conference against the CJP was likely to take place and in consequence of this press conference he could resign.Despite these rumors PEMRA was keeping mute to play its role and did not take any step to prevent the electronic media from conducting direct coverage.A procedure is spelt out in the constitution for removal of any judge of superior judiciary, he said. Allegations were being leveled repeatedly against the CJP but the PEMRA and government were initiating no action, he added.Leveling allegations against judge of superior judiciary through interview or press conference was an offence under article 204 of the constitution, he pleaded.The learned judge while issuing stay order against broadcasting or telecasting insulting material against judges of superior judiciary said in his remarks that anyone could lodge complaints against the judges under article 209 of the constitution through National Judicial Commission.The judges of superior judiciary were bound to hear them. But under the law of the land and constitution no one is allowed to publish or broad cast an interview or press conference against the judges.The court adjourned the hearing till October 15.
