PEMRA’s move to ban court reporting challenged in LHC

LAHORE: The move by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ban court reporting was challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Samra Malik Advocate challenged the notification of PEMRA in the Lahore High Court.

The petitioner said that the notification issued by PEMRA on May 21 is illegal and violative of Article-19 and 19-A of the Constitution.

The petition requested that the court declare PEMRA’s notification null and void and suspend the notification till the final decision of the petition.

PEMRA has banned TV channels from airing news, opinions, and commentary on proceedings of ongoing court cases.

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“TV channels are directed to refrain from airing tickers/headlines with regard to court proceedings and shall only report the written orders of the court,” a notification from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said. 

The regulator also directed TV channels to air “no content including commentary, opinions or suggestions about the potential fate of sub judice matter which tends to prejudice the determination by a court, tribunal.”

However, PEMRA allowed TV channels to report on court proceedings if they were broadcast live by the judiciary.

Journalists’ associations covering Pakistan’s Supreme Court and the IHC rejected the directives, saying it was in violation of the country’s constitution.