QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court (BHC) has directed the federal information secretary, chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, the provincial information secretary and Balochistan public relations director to explain why its order about stopping statements of militants belonging to banned organisations from being disseminated by electronic and print media has not been implemented.

Hearing a petition of the Balochistan Bar Association about the kidnapping of senior lawyer Salahuddin Mengal, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Qazi Faez and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan issued notices on Tuesday to a private TV channel and two local daily newspapers and directed the information departments of federal and provincial governments to submit their explanations at the next hearing.

The court directed the chief executive of Geo News and chief editors of Jang and Mashriq to appear before it and explain why they contravened article 19 of the constitution and section 11-W of the Anti-Terrorist Act 1997, by not complying with the judgement.

The court further asked them to show cause why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them.

It also directed the Geo management to submit recording of the news segment broadcast on April 8, which mentioned the threat of Hakeemullah Mehsud.

The court directed that the copies of its order should be sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan, caretaker prime minister and caretaker chief minister of Balochistan.

The Quetta CCPO submitted progress report about efforts being made for the recovery of Salahuddin Mengal. The hearing was adjourned till April 17.