ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) served a show-cause notice to 14 news channels including the top-ranked ones for failing to act upon its advisory to avoid commenting on references filed in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against senior judges.
A press release by the regulatory authority stated on Saturday that Geo News, DawnNewsTV, Dunya News, ARY News, Channel 24, 92 News, Express News, Aaj News, Ab Tak News, GNN, Samaa TV, Neo News, Sach News and Koh-i-Noor were served the notices.
The media watchdog directed the said news channels to ensure that orders issued by the Supreme Court and SJC as well as advisories issued by the regulatory authority are acted upon and warned against further violation.
The channels have been instructed to submit a response by June 11.
On Friday, Pemra had barred all television channels from airing discussion or analysis on the issue regarding the filing of references by the government against the judges for allegedly owning undeclared properties abroad, except the news.
Citing the July 7, 2018 judgement of the Supreme Court, Pemra recalled that through the judgment directives were issued to media that no media discussion, articles or editorials would be written or published and no public comments would be made on the proceedings of the SJC and only the proceedings would be aired.
The filing of references has directed flak at the government too as the opposition lawmakers are likening it with victimization.
