Daily Times

A court in Lahore has refused to ban media appearances of businessman and Liberia’s Ambassador-at-Large Umar Farooq Zahoor on an application filed by his former wife and actor Sophia Mirza.
The former model had applied to Lahore High Court that through Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), directions should be issued to all TV channels to place ban on Umar Farooq Zahoor. The couple divorced over 14 years ago and since then they have been engaged in a legal war for the custody of their twins Zainab Umar and Zuneirah Umar, both 14, who live with their father in Dubai.
Sophia Mirza approached the court after Mr Zahoor, Zainab and Zuneirah made a number of appearances on Pakistani media to refute allegations of kidnapping and suppression made by Sophia Mirza. The twins have said they have been living happily with their father in Dubai and do not wish to live with their mother. Umar Farooq Zahoor has told media in the last few months how Sophia Mirza (aka Khushbakhat Mirza) used the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under Shahzad Akbar to target him on false grounds.
Sophia Mirza’s lawyer Mr. Adnan Faiz Kalar told the court in her application that “PEMRA has been airing false news” and shall be stopped from doing so.  He asked the court that “major news channels are airing malicious content about Sophia Mirza and same shall be stopped and a notice should be issued to PEMRA”.
Justice Shahid Jamil told Sophia Mirza and her lawyer that they need to quote the exact provision of the law under which the violation took place and what was false in the news. The lawyer told the judge that Khushbakht Mirza (Sophia Mirza) had approached the FIA under PECA but the federal investigation agency didn’t entertain the application. At this point, Khushbakht Mirza intervened and told the court that it was a matter of custody of daughters.
The judge admonished the model that either she should speak herself or let her counsel represent her case before the court. The lawyer asked the court again that a notice should be issued again and that the Youtube links have been provided in the petition. The judge told the lawyer that this was not the job of PEMRA to stop such broadcasts
The honourable judge remarked: “You have to tell me what is the law and which provision of law has been violated. Establish your case first. We cannot issue directions in every case.”
The lawyer sought more time and Justice shahid Jamil Khan expressed his displeasure on wasting Court’s time and asked him to come prepared on next date of hearing. The Order by the judge stated that the Counsel seeks time to further prepare the brief.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Attorney General Syed Sajjad Haider Rizvi apprised the Court that under PEMRA Council of Complaints Rules 2010 a complaint can be filed before PEMRA. Upon the inquiry of Judge, Khushbakht Mirza failed to show any such complaint filed before PEMRA.
Sophia Mirza had written in her petition that her former husband Mr Zahoor is a “fugitive of law” and should not appear on media but the Assistant Attorney General apprised the court that Mr Zahoor has not even been impleaded as a party in the case. Sophia Mirza’s lawyer also failed to satisfy the Court on point that even if it is to be believed that Umar Farooq is a fugitive from law, under what law PEMRA can be asked to stop airing his interview. The judge asked Mirza’s lawyers to come fully prepared at the next hearing.
Sophia Mirza has made allegations against her ex-husband of fraud and corruption but the respected businessman has not been charged or convicted of any wrongdoing in any jurisdiction of the world.