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PEMRA chief retracts allegations against Zara Sochiye, Aman Ki Asha
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in his remarks on Monday said that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is ‘good for nothing’.
The Chief Justice passed the above remarks while chairing a three-judge bench hearing constitutional petitions on Media Commission Report.
The arguments on Media Commission Report in the Supreme Court took a dramatic turn when Chairman PEMRA backed out of its allegations against ‘Zara Sochiye’ and ‘Aman Ki Asha’, Jang Group’s initiatives for promotion of education and friendly ties with India.
On page-204 of the Media Commission Report, PEMRA has leveled allegations against media channels for receiving financial aid/grant from abroad.
During today’s proceedings, Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir and another private channel’s anchor Absar Alam prayed to the court that evidence in support of the allegations be produced.
Hamid Mir said PEMRA has alleged in connection with ‘Zara Sochiye’ that ‘this media house’ received 20 million pounds and asked Chairman PEMRA to produce evidence in support of the ‘serious allegations’.
On this, the PEMRA council said that no such allegations as reported in the Media Commission Report were leveled by PMERA. He said PEMRA has also added its reply in a counter-petition.
This prompted the court to ask him to read out the part on which Hamid Mir had raised objection and tell the court about the source of the allegations. The PEMRA council said his client says there is no source and that Chairman PEMRA withdraws the allegations.
Justice Azmat Saeed Shaikh remarked that PEMRA should have submitted an affidavit 30 days ago. “Now that all has been said and done you are saying that an apology will be submitted in a closed room. This is a misquote which has become part of the court’s record,” he added.
A private TV channel's anchor Absar Alam said: “Charges of being Indian and Israeli agents are being leveled on the basis of Media Commission Report. What would happen if someone gets overcome by emotions and attacks Hamid Mir?”
Jang Group’s council, Dr Tariq Hassan prayed to the court to get the controversial parts expunged from the Media Commission Report.
Courtesy www.geo.tv