The caretaker government on the orders of the Supreme Court made an amendment in the PEMRA Ordinance on Thursday after which the apex court wrapped up the media commission case after 100 hearings spanning over six years. On Wednesday, during the hearing of the media commission case, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar directed the caretaker government to make an amendment in the PEMRA Ordinance following journalist Hamid Mir's petition.
Mir, who was a petitioner in the media commission case, had requested a change in Sections 5 and 6 of the PEMRA Ordinance. The caretaker government made the amendment in the ordinance on Thursday, rendering the federal government 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 Pakistan Electronic Media Regulating Authority (PEMRA) chairman has been increased.
Further, the number of PEMRA members has been reduced from 11 to eight. Of the eight members, five will be non-government officials and three will be government officials. Following the amendment, Mir and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) counsel Aitzaz Ahsan requested the CJP to wrap up the case. Subsequently, Justice Nisar wrapped up the case.
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