ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday maintained its stay order till
June 10, against the issuance of new TV licenses by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
The bench directed the Chairman PEMRA and board members to submit an affidavit, assuring that the rights of current license holders wouldn’t be affected.
The counsel of Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) Faisal Siddiqui pleaded that the cable operators would become more influential with the introduction of more TV channels. He questioned had PEMRA already regularized 124 TV channels before issuing more 70 licenses.
He argued that there were 89 channels members of PBA and PEMRA’s decision would affect their rights Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that PEMRA was not authorized to take any decisions which affect the freedom of expression. With PEMRA’s decision, the control would be shifted to unregistered cable operators, he observed and asked channels regulatory body to satisfy the bench that how the issuance of new licenses wouldn’t affect the right of current license holders.
The bench adjourned the hearing of the case till June 10.
