PTI has welcomed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision to restore ARY News transmission. Thursday, IHC ordered Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to immediately restore ARY News transmission.
According to the details, Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Athar Minallah heard the petition related to the closure of ARY News transmission. The IHC CJ in his ruling directed PEMRA to immediately restore ARY News transmission as there is no written order about its closure.
Read more: NOC of ARY News cancelled by Interior Ministry
The move has been hailed by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry who hoped that ARY will maintain its independent status.
“Islamabad High Court’s decision to restore is welcomed. I hope ARY will maintain its independent status and reputation and that the day and night threats will not affect it,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
اسلام آباد ہائیکورٹ کا @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL کو بحال کرنے کا فیصلہ خوش آئند ہے امید ہے ARY اپنی آزاد حیثیت اور شہرت کو برقرار رکھے گا اور دن رات ملنے والی دھمکیاں اس پر اثر انداز نہیں ہوں گی
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 1, 2022
Earlier, the Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered PEMRA and cable operators to immediately restore the transmission of ARY News. It also directed the media regulatory authority to take action against cable operators, who defy the Sindh High Court’s decision. Later, the SHC issued a contempt of court notice to PEMRA chairman Saleem Baig on a petition over the non-implementation of the court’s order to restore ARY News broadcast.
Pakistan raises voice for ARY
Due to its criticisms of the incumbent government, ARY was taken off air, a move that sparked condemnation from the public since ARY is one of Pakistan’s most popular news channels.
Prominent members of the journalistic community lashed out at the government for curbing free speech. Meanwhile, ARY News declared the move equivalent to the financial murder of its 4000 employees who risked losing their jobs. The transmission of ARY News has been suspended for the last 23 days by PEMRA.
The Interior Ministry under Rana Sanaullah had also canceled the NOC of ARY news which was in violation of instructions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan which prohibits arbitrary cancellation of NOC, according to Aitzaz Ahsan, a senior barrister, and PPP leader.
Read more: NOC of ARY News cancelled by Interior Ministry