The Supreme Court on Tuesday took suo moto notice of the alleged anti-judiciary remarks made by former senator Faisal Raza Abidi during a programme on Channel 5, DawnNewsTV reported.

A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, will hear the case on Wednesday. The apex court has issued a notice to Abidi in this regard.

Meanwhile, The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has imposed a fine of Rs1 million on Channel 5 and also placed a three-month ban on its programme “News @ 8” during which the remarks were reportedly aired.

The regulatory authority has also asked Channel 5 to run an apology during prime time transmission on April 19, 2018.

According to a statement issued by Pemra, the authority had issued a show cause notice to Channel 5 on April 13 asking it to submit a reply and appear before it within three days time.

After hearing the channel’s explanation, the regulatory authority on Tuesday slapped a three-month ban on the programme and further informed the channel administration that in case of any further violation their licence will be cancelled.

Opinion

Editorial

Maritime alliance
Updated 01 Aug, 2026

Maritime alliance

AS the US-Iran war drags on, new battle lines are being drawn. The pro-US Gulf Arab monarchies and Iran have enjoyed...
Local governance
01 Aug, 2026

Local governance

INTERIOR Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s speech at a business summit on Thursday has stirred a hornet’s nest. His...
Murders in Balochistan
01 Aug, 2026

Murders in Balochistan

GOOD news is scarce in Balochistan. Seven labourers were abducted and gunned down in Turbat city recently. Four...
Expanding conflict
31 Jul, 2026

Expanding conflict

WITH neither of the belligerents willing to back down, and the theatre of conflict expanding geographically, the...
Spoils and spats
31 Jul, 2026

Spoils and spats

A FIGHT over assembly seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has laid bare what seem to be some deep resentments between ...
Unfair tax system
31 Jul, 2026

Unfair tax system

THE disclosure that the FBR collected nearly Rs1.9tr in sales and income taxes through electricity bills over the...