LAHORE, Nov 17: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed the writ petition of FM-103 Radio against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) which restrained broadcasting BBC Urdu service news and views and other programmes.

The bench held that the Pemra’s notice was valid, and it could restrict or allow broadcasting of certain foreign programmes with a view to regulate television channels and radios.

BAIL: Justice Khwaja Mohammad Sharif allowed bail to Abdur Rahman and his co-accused, Mohammad Sharif.

Abdur Rahman was accused of poisoning his wife to death in league with Sharif in Jhang Sadar in March, 2006. They moved the LHC submitting that they were not charged on the basis of material evidence but were forced to accept the charge through extra-judicial confession.

CONTEMPT CHARGES: A full bench of the Lahore High Court dropped contempt of court proceedings against advocate Babar Awan who in return also withdrew his contempt of court charges against prosecutor Mujibur Rehman and thus ending the legal battle which started about eight years ago.

Comprising Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, the bench observed while disposing of the two petitions that the respect of the judiciary was a common obligation on the bench and the bar and the two limbs of the judiciary should go hand in hand.

Advocate Babar Awan was charged with bringing the court into disrepute when he was arguing in the Rawalpindi bench of the LHC in a reference instituted against Benazir Bhutto in 1998.

Simultaneously, advocate Awan also filed a contempt of court petition against the then prosecutor Mujibur Rehman. The two petitions were proceeded upon for eight years without an outcome. — Correspondent