ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court ordered the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Friday to immediately restore the transmission of ARY News at the position it was on Aug 7 or face consequences for defying the order.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah ordered Information Secretary Shahera Shahid and Pemra Chairman Saleem Baig to appear before the court on Monday (Sept 5) and explain why the channel was taken off air on Aug 8 and why no measures were taken to restore it.

The chief justice had taken up a petition moved by a number of journalists working for ARY Communications. The channel was back on air, at least in the federal capital, soon after the issuance of the IHC order.

The petition was moved by Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan and Gohar Ali Khan on behalf of journalist Azhar Farooq and others, who said the Aug 8 suspension of ARY News transmission had put their livelihood in danger.

At the outset on Friday, Justice Minallah asked the Pemra representative to explain why the transmission was suspended, but Advocate Haroon Dogal argued that the regulator had not blocked the channel. Not satisfied with the response, the IHC CJ said Pemra should put the channel back on air.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2022