PEMRA private members term decision illegal, decide to challenge
Israr Abbasi said the decision is illegal and unconstitutional.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)’s private members did not participate in the PEMRA session on Friday and termed the session’s decision -- to suspend Geo News licence for 15 days and Rs 1 crore fine -- as illegal. Private members said they would challenge the decision on the grounds that the acting chairman does not have the authority to make that kind of decision, Dunya News reported.
According to reports, private member Mian Shams said that there’s no room for an acting chairman in the regulatory authority.
He further said that the regulatory authority has no authority to assign penalty of 1 crore rupees.
He said that the decision will be challenged.
Meanwhile, another private member Israr Abbasi said that he was notified of the session through an SMS, adding that an acting chairman has no authority to make such a decision.
He said that the decision is illegal and unconstitutional.
It merits mentioning here that the federal government appointed Pervez Rathore as acting chairman PEMRA on Thursday.
According to reports, Rathore will take charge as the acting chairman until a permanent chairman is found.
It merits mentioning here that President Mamnoon Hussain had dismissed PEMRA’s former chairman Chaudhry Rashid Ahmed on April 17.
Reportedly, Ahmed was removed as per the procedures prescribed by Islamabad High Court (IHC).
