ISLAMABAD
Supreme Court (SC) has ordered PEMRA to stop practice for suspending the licenses of TV channels till the rules are framed.
The court remarked twenty years have passed since the formation of the institution then as to why the rules have not been framed so far.
A 3-member bench of SC presided over by Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan took up the case for hearing Thursday.
Ahmad Pervez counsel for PEMRA took the plea before the court during the hearing of the case that the powers of PEMRA authority will have to be read separately.
The basic powers of the Authority cannot be given to any one. Chairman PEMRA too obtains final approval in respect of his decisions from authority. The rules regarding powers could not be framed so far.
Faisal Siddiqui counsel for PBA told the court chairman PEMRA closed the TV channel for four times in a month. If the channel is shut for 10 days then the channel stands no more.
Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan remarked as to why PEMRA rules have not been framed since the last 20 years. High court decision had come one year before and the rules have not been framed uptill now. There is likelihood authority meeting may not take place in six months. Framing rules are must. It is a separate thing the rules delegate powers to whom.
The court while directing PEMRA to stop practice of suspending TV channels licenses without framing the rules dismissed PEMRA appeal against Sindh High Court decision.
PBA had challenged chairman PEMRA powers for suspending licenses of TV channels in high court in 2020.
Sindh high court had ordered PEMRA to frame rules regarding powers of suspending the licenses of TV channels. The SC has now upheld this decision.
