Pemra ordered to stop 'defamatory' materials against lawyers

Peshawar High Court (PHC) Abbottabad bench Wednesday ordered Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to stop broadcast and publication of defamatory material against lawyers' fraternity. The bench also directed PEMRA to ensure the implementation of ban under Electronic Media Program and Advertisement Code of conduct section (3).

Forty-six lawyers of Abbottabad, including Mehdi Zaman advocate, Shahid Aziz advocate, Shahid Aziz advocate, Qasim Sajjad Abbasi, Awais Abbasi, Kiran Tanoli, Zaraid Qureshi filed a writ petition in PHC Abbottabad bench against 'scandalous' 'news' items, that are aimed at humiliating the legal fraternity.

The PHC Abbottabad bench in its orders stated that in view of recent Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) incident, the court has noticed that print and electronic media are sowing hatred between lawyers and doctors, besides disparaging the judiciary.

The bench in its interim relief orders ordered PEMRA to issue directives to the print and electronic media not to publish and air derogatory remarks against lawyers' community.