ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) has ordered PEMRA to stop practice for suspending licenses of TV channels till rules are framed. Court remarked twenty years have passed since formation of institution then as to why rules have not been framed so far. A 3-member bench of SC presided over by Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan took up case for hearing. 

Court directing PEMRA to stop practice of suspending TV channels licenses without framing rules dismissed PEMRA appeal against Sindh High Court decision. PBA 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 licenses of TV channels. SC has now upheld this decision. 

Ahmad Pervez counsel for PEMRA took plea before court that powers of PEMRA authority will have to be read separately. Basic powers of Authority cannot be given to anyone. Chairman PEMRA too obtains final approval in respect of his decisions from authority.  Rules regarding powers could not be framed so far.  Faisal Siddiqui counsel for PBA told court Chairman PEMRA closed TV channel for four times in a month. If channel is shut for 10 days then channel stands no more.  Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan remarked as to why PEMRA rules have not been framed since last 20 years.

High court decision had come one year before and 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 rules delegate powers to whom. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 11 2022

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