A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Secretary Information & Broadcasting, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and others for July 11, 2007 on petition filed against the suspension of private Royal TV channel transmission.
The bench comprising Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani and Justice Maqbool Baqar also restrained Pemra from taking further action against Royal TV. On June 27, 2007 Pemra stopped transmission of Royal TV observing its administration started transmission in violation of Pemra Ordinance 2002 without licence and issued show-cause notice.
Applicant Royal Media Network submitted that the organisation was established under Pemra Ordinance and in terms of law no licence was required for airing TV transmission within Pakistan. Applicant's counsel Rasheed A Rizvi challenging show-cause notice and Pemra action stated freedom of press and expression of public opinion was fundamental right of people guaranteed by the Constitution. He stated issuance of notice was illegal and in violation of Article 19 of the Constitution.
He prayed to declare impugned notice illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional. It was also prayed to restrain Pemra from controlling free access of electromagnetic waves carrying TV picture by using power under Pemra Ordinance 2002. SHC's division bench after preliminary hearing issued notice and restrained Pemra from further action.