ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered issuance of a notification in two days for the appointment of Mohammad Saleem Baig as chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

The court observed that Mohammad Saleem had been recommended by a search committee formed for appointing an eminent professional as Pemra chief.

The search committee comprised Hameed Haroon, President of the All Pakistan Newspaper Society, President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors Arif Nizami, Mian Amir Mehmood, Chairman of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association, Information Secretary Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera and Establishment Secretary Maroof Afzal.

Contempt case

The Supreme Court asked Mir Shakilur Rehman, the owner and chief executive of the Jang Group of News­­papers, to furnish a written apology expressing remorse and regrets over his utterances against the judiciary. Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who headed a three-judge bench hearing the case, said if Mr Rehman did not submit the apology, the court may consider framing of charges against him under the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003.

In a case brought by Asad Rajput, Shakeelur Rehman was facing charges over remarks deemed to be contemptuous of the judiciary. Mir Shakil was also accused of manipulating the stock market with the help of a relative. Justice Saqib Nisar said it was regrettable that the judiciary was targeted and ridiculed day in and day out during talk shows. “Please let the institution of judiciary work independently,” the chief justice observed, adding it was his duty to protect the judiciary.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2018

Correction: In an earlier version of this report's headline, the PEMRA chief was incorrectly stated the Nepra chief. The error is regretted.