Lahore (August 24, 2017): The Lahore High Court directed the Pakistani Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to stop airing the anti-judiciary speeches of 16 PML-N leaders including ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif till it deliberates the maintainability of the case.
The case was heard by the justice Mamoon Rasheed Sheikh of Lahore High Court.
The petitioner Amaan Welfare Foundation President Amna Malik’s counsel Azhar Siddique told the court that 16 parliamentarians including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif have committed contempt of court by issuing anti-judiciary statements after the Panama case verdict, in which court disqualified the than PM Nawaz Sharif. He further mentioned that Speaker National Assembly and provincial assemblies have linked with the PML-N and became biased, therefore they were not taken action against them.
“Court is requested to stop Pemra to air statements of the said leaders. Court should also stop airing the upcoming speech of former PM Nawaz Sharif to lawyer’s convention on August 25,” the petition said.
The state counsel has the view that such kind of petition is not maintainable in LHC and only bases of allegations petition could not be heard.
However court, after hearing arguments of both sides, directed the Pemra to stop airing the statements of Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Khawaja Saad Rafique, PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other leaders mentioned in the plea.
LHC has also summoned reply from Pemra till September 12 by issuing notice to chairman Pemra and council of complaints.
The contempt of court petition was filed by Malik earlier this month against the former premier and 13 federal and provincial ministers of the ruling PML-N for their outburst against the Supreme Court following the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif in Panamagate verdict.
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