ISLAMABAD: In a hearing on Monday, Chief Justice (CJ) Saqib Nisar remarked that the Supreme Court wished to end the government’s control over the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), and hoped to turn it into an independent body.
Speaking while heading a three-member bench hearing the media commission case, the Chief Justice remarked regarding PEMRA’s independence,
“There is no sword hanging over the government regarding this issue, but it should be done.”
The media commission case is based on petitions filed by senior journalists Hamid Mir and Absar Alam in 2013 regarding issues the media faces and the government’s use of ‘secret funds’ to influence media outlets.
Mr Alam was later appointed as PEMRA chairman but was then removed last year on the orders of the Lahore High Court.
During the hearing, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Rana Waqar informed the court that the government had formed a seven-member committee comprising prominent journalists and the chairman of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association.
The committee will then form a three-member panel to select a person to head PEMRA.
In response, CJ claimed that this process would take too long a time, and in turn, formed a search committee to appoint a chairperson for the authority.
The Chief Justice, however, replaced Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb with the Information Secretary in the search committee, claiming that the minister might be too busy making statements.
Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb often criticises the court’s decisions against PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif.
CJ claims the apex court showing patience in the wake of anti-judiciary slogans
The Chief Justice also remarked that the court was displaying patience in the face of the anti-judiciary slogans that had been raised outside the court following the court’s verdict in the disqualification under Article 62 case on Friday.
The court’s verdict held that persons disqualified under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution were disqualified for life, and could not contest elections again.
“I don’t know any lion. These are the real lions,” the Chief Justice remarked, pointing towards his fellow judges. He then added, “respect should be shown [to us] equal to that given to elders”.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed also observed that the media’s independence hinged on the judiciary, claiming that the media will remain weak if the judiciary is weak.
The AAG, during the hearing, remarked that they were aware that the Chief Justice would conclude the issues he had raised before he left office.
To this, the Chief Justice responded that although he did not raise this particular issue, he would take it to its proper conclusion.
Justice Saeed then added that to close cases, sometimes, it is important to ‘close’ people as well.
The hearing was then adjourned for two weeks.