I
Islamabad, Nov.29 : The Sindh High Court today adjourned the hearing of a case relating to the ban on Dubai-based Geo TV till December 4. The Sindh High Court today adjourned the hearing of a case relating to the ban on Dubai-based Geo TV till December 4.
A two-judge bench of the high court, comprising Justice Muneeb Ahmed Khan and Justice Dr Rana Shamim Ahmed, issued the order after Deputy Attorney General Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqi submitted that a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court on the same subject matter that had barred the writ jurisdiction of the high court.
Siddiqi further pleaded the engagements of the Attorney General of Pakistan in Islamabad did not allow him to come to Karachi to appear in person to deliberate on the petitions. He, therefore, sought further time.
Muhammad Ali Mazhar, an advocate who is the counsel for petitioners Independent Media Pvt Ltd and Bird Pvt Ltd, said the petition in the apex court was filed by Kazi Shaharyar in which the very law, the PEMRA (amendment) ordinance 2007 has been challenged.
Mazhar further pleaded that petitioners had not challenged the ordinance, which places restrictions on electronic media. These restrictions were being followed by all four channels of the Geo TV Network strictly.
He said petitioners are aggrieved parties and their right to seek remedy from high court could not be taken away if any Tom or Peter files a petition in Supreme Court.
When Justice Muneeb asked Siddiqui as to why he was not filing comments on behalf of the federal government, he maintained that certain documents, including some from Dubai regarding ban on Geo, were being collected. After completion of this task, he said he would file the comments. (ANI)
© 2007 ANI
