ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought report from Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) by October 19 as to what action has been taken so far against the people who were allegedly trying to defame the Judiciary.

“Judges are unable to defend themselves at public forums as they are bound to explain their position in the Supreme Judicial Council,” Justice Shaukat Aziz remarked while hearing a plea seeking direction to media that they must not broadcast any interview or press conference that may contain defamatory material or statement against any member of the superior judiciary.

During the course of hearing, Secretary, Ministry of Information, Chaudhry Rasheed Ahmed and Chairman Pemra Dr Abdul Jabbar appeared before the bench.

Chairman Pemra apprised the bench that the Authority was complying with the court orders and it had sent a letter as well as all the regulations to the TV channels, directing them not to air any defamatory and indecent content against Judiciary or any other person.

He informed the bench that investigation agencies were probing the press conferences by a politician and Pemra was cooperating with them in this regard.

The Supreme Court had also taken notice of the press conference while the Pemra has recently introduced new rules and regulations for media.

“Under which authority would Pemra take action against TV channels, if any defamatory content was aired against any institution or person,” he questioned.

It may be mentioned here that in the previous hearing, the IHC had summoned the Pemra Chairman to explain about the code of conduct in regulating broadcast media and parameters of live programmes on the TV channels.