Caretaker govt amends Pemra ordinance after SC orders

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday wrapped up media commission case after the caretaker government on the orders of the apex court made an amendment in the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Ordinance.

After the amendment in the law, the federal government will be unable to shut down television channels by passing direct orders.

Following the amendment, the control of federal government has been curtailed while the authority of Pemra chairman has been increased.

A day earlier during the hearing of the media commission case, Chief Justice had instructed the caretaker government to make an amendment in the Pemra Ordinance following the petition filed by a journalist.

The petition requested to amend Section 5 and 6 of the Pemra Ordinance.

In his remarks during the hearing, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said that state television PTV (Pakistan Television) should work freely like CNN and BBC.

“I am freeing PTV” he stated by adding that a petition seeking the freedom of PTV should be filed in the court. Chief Justice gave these remarks while hearing the media commission case in Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Being concerned about the pending salaries of media employees, he directed three networks to pay dues of their employees before Eid.

All the media workers who are not given salaries should come to Lahore, as the next hearing of the case will be held at the Lahore registry of Supreme Court on Sunday, the court observed.