Chairman PEMRA submits unconditional apology in Islamabad High Court
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ISLAMABAD: The chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Mirza Saleem Baig, submitted his unconditional apology in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in connection with a contempt of court case.
The high court resumed the hearing of the contempt notice issued to the PEMRA chairman for using the court’s name without prior permission or context as means of persuasion to enforce strict guidelines on media houses and news anchors.
During the hearing, Mirza Saleem Baig submitted an unconditional apology from the high court and said that he could not even think of misusing court’s name and the notice was not issued to challenge the powers of the court. He prayed IHC for withdrawing show-cause notice over contempt of court issued on November 1.
The chairman also submitted a written reply in the court which stated that the authority had clarified its notification for not imposing restrictions on news anchors for joining other talks shows. The reply also stated it had been clarified that news anchors were not restricted to participate in marathon transmission.
On October 29, The high court being presided over by Justice Athar Minallah link had issued a contempt of court notice to chairman PEMRA link for using the court’s name without prior permission.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had issued new directives to all TV channels regarding analyses, views and discussion on sub-judice matters which resulted in tremendous backlash from a large segment of society, media and prominent political entities.
