PEMRA restrained from canceling Bol TV licence

KARACHI: Justice Adnanul Karim Memon of Sindh High Court on Friday restrained Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) from taking any adverse action against Bol TV Channel on an August 9, 2021, letter of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB) written to chairman PEMRA.

Quoting a direction issued by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Rules of Procedures and Privileges, MOIB had written chairman PEMRA to cancel the licence of the channel and impose a heavy fine.

In this regard, a suit along with the application for restraining orders was filed on Thursday.

The court in its order observed: “Learned counsel submits in view of the above directions, the plaintiff apprehends the cancellation of Broadcasting Licence which action can only be taken under the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002. Learned counsel submits, in any case, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly has no jurisdiction to make any directions to an independent statutory authority. Point raised requires consideration.”

The court issued notices to the respondents for September 2, 2021, and till then restrained PEMRA from taking action against the plaintiff on the basis of impugned of August 9, 2021.