Petition seeking ban on PTM: IHC reissues notices to Federation, Pashteen and others

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday reissued notices to Manzoor Pashteen, Mohsin Dawar, Ali Wazir, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Defence, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in a petition filed against anti-state and anti-army rhetoric of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM).
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petition that sought ban on PTM as the petitioner stated PTM has neither been registered as a political party nor as a corporate body, but it is just an association of persons.
Earlier, the IHC bench had issued notices to Pashteen, Dawar, Wazir, Ministries of Law and Justice and Defence, PEMRA and PTA on May 27 last. Again the court issued notices to them.
Furthermore, it also sought written response from the Ministry of Interior in this matter. The court also directed Director General (DG) Internet Protocol of PTA to appear before the court in person on the next hearing to be held on June 13. Then the court deferred the proceedings.
The IHC issued these directions while hearing a petition moved by Colonel Javed Iqbal (retd) through his counsel Barrister Shoaib Razzaq.
He made the federation through Ministries of Law and Justice, Interior and Defence, PEMRA and PTA, PTM through its chairperson Manzoor Pashteen, and lawmakers Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir as respondents. In his petition, he prayed to the court to direct the federation and other concerned respondents to take appropriate action against PTM, Dawar and Wazir under the prevailing laws in the best interest of the country and to uphold the respect and prestige of Pakistan Army.
The petitioner prayed that the court may ban PTM which has neither been registered as a political party nor as a corporate body, and is just an association of persons. He stated that all those who are held responsible for maligning Pakistan Army and other state institutions be tried under appropriate criminal laws. He requested the court to declare that Pashteen, Dawar and Wazir have committed gross violation of Code of Conduct, 2015 and PEMRA Ordinance 2002 and that the respondent No. 5 (PEMRA) has failed to stop and act against their violations.
He further requested the court to declare that these people have used electronic media and social media for hate speech, incitation, abetting, glamorising and/or justifying violence, commission of crime, terror and which has led to or will lead to serious public disorder. Therefore, they are liable to be banned for lifetime on all media, including but not limited to print media, electronic media and social media.
He was of the view that it should be declared that these people have maligned the state institutions and an attempt has been made to create division amongst different ranks of Pakistan Army and therefore, the court may direct respondent No. 5 and 6 (PEMRA and PTA respectively) to take serious action against them and ban them from hosting, appearing in any manner, including but not limited to, as a guest, analyst, reporter, actor, in audio, video, beeper, promo/advertisement in any electronic media. The petitioner also sought the court's directions to PTA to immediately delete/block all social media accounts of the respondents Nos. 4, 7 and 8 on all forums available on Internet or otherwise.