High Court of Sindh (SHC) on Tuesday rejected the constitutional petition challenging the ban on the telecast of Geo Television programmes. The SHC division bench comprising Justice Munib Ahmed Khan and Justice Rana M. Shamim heard the petition filed by the Independent Media Corporation and the Birds Private Limited (Geo TV).
Deputy Attorney General (DAG), Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui represented the federal government whereas Mazhar Ali Advocate appeared for Geo Television. The DAG argued that the petition had no legal and constitutional worth as emergency had been declared and the authority, which declares emergency has all rights to take any action meant to maintain law and order in the country.
He also submitted that the human rights were suspended under article 19 of the constitution and under these circumstances there is no justification for such a petition.
He drew attention of the honourable bench towards the verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan wherein the petition of Geo TV was declared non-maintainable. He prayed that SHC's honourable judges may declare it as non-maintainable. Geo TV's Counsel, Mazhar Ali Advocate argued that there was no reason particularly to ban the telecast of Geo sports and entertainment programmes.