The Islamabad High Court (IHC) recently called out electronic and print media institutions for derogatory remarks regarding Pakistan’s judicial system.
Notices were issued to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), and Pakistan Press Foundation.
This is not the first time a media institution has been petitioned for bad behavior towards the judiciary. Chairman PEMRA Absar Alam and Information Secretary have been held in contempt of court earlier in August.
The petitioners questioned why the aforementioned institutions appear to be intent upon mocking the judiciary in blatant violation of broadcasting licenses. Sardar Shahbaz Khosa pointed out that media governance bodies have been telecasting judicial vilification content and speeches with no regulation at all.
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The IHC bench declared requirements for the improvement of ethical, legal and responsible journalism and demanded from the institutions subjected to scrutiny a demand within a fortnight.