ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought an answer from the federal government and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) in relation to the petition filed by the Geo TV network, DawnNews reported.

A three-judge apex court bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja heard the case over Geo's petition requesting the court to halt what it termed a hate campaign and provocations against it.

During the hearing Justice Khawaja said that if anyone had reservations regarding the constitution of the bench then they should inform the court.

He added the federal government should inform in case there were any reservations against him or any other judge hearing the case.

Upon which the Additional Attorney General Khawaja Ahmed Hussain said that he had no information about the issue.

Geo’s attorney Akram Sheikh expressed his reservations saying that he felt harassed while taking up the case.

The petition by the Independent Media Corporation that runs Geo TV had asked the court to issue directives to restrain all channels, including Geo, from airing allegations against other channels or media groups.

The court had been requested to issue directives for consolidation of all FIRs that might have been registered in various parts of the country and to restrain the registration of any new case, but to forward all pending and new FIRs containing allegations of blasphemy before the SC for eventual quashing of proceedings on them.

On May 16, the Pemra had served a show-cause notice on Geo Entertainment network for airing objectionable content in its morning show `Utho Jago Pakistan’ and sought immediate explanation from the channel.