ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: The Supreme Court on Tuesday put off the hearing of petitions moved by Geo News against a ban on airing its programmes after the government sought more time.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Mohammad Moosa K. Laghari and Justice Mian Hamid Farooq took up the petitions filed by the Independent Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd and Birds (Pvt) Ltd against the curbs on the private television channel. The hearing was adjourned for January 7.

At the last hearing, the court had served notices on the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the federal government and the attorney-general.

On Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Nahida Mehboob Ellahi told the court that she needed time to get instructions from the government on the petitions.

Advocate Mohammad Ali Mazhar, representing Geo News, informed the court that his clients wished to pursue the case before the apex court when it was suggested by the bench that he could move the petitions again before the Sindh High Court which had dismissed them as not maintainable since fundamental rights had been suspended during the emergency rule.

Before proclaiming the state of emergency on Nov 3, 2007, the government stopped the transmissions of all private television channels.

Later, the Pemra Ordinance was amended and after getting assurances from almost all private channels, the transmission was restored, except that of Geo News.

The petitioners pleaded for restoration of Geo News and Geo Super.

Geo Aag and Geo Entertainment have already been allowed to air their programmes.