The Islamabad High Court on Monday sought report from Chairman, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), by October 19 on its actions that it taken so far against the people who were allegedly trying to defame the Judiciary.
"Judges are unable to defend themselves at public forums as they are bound to explain their position in the Supreme Judicial Council," Justice Shaukat Aziz remarked while hearing a plea seeking a direction to media that they must not broadcast any interview or press conference that may contain defamatory material or statements against any member of the superior judiciary. During the course of hearing, Secretary, Ministry of Information, Chaudhry Rasheed Ahmed and Chairman Pemra Dr Abdul Jabbar appeared before the bench.
Chairman Pemra apprised the bench that the Authority was complying with the court orders and it had sent a letter as well as all the regulations to the TV channels, directing them not to air any defamatory and indecent content against judiciary or any person. He informed the bench that investigation agencies were probing the press conferences by a politician and Pemra was co-operating with them in this regard.