The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has set aside fines imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on several television channels for allegedly airing hate speech during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in.
Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas issued a 15-page written judgment on appeals filed by the affected channels, accepting their petitions and remanding the matter to PEMRA for fresh adjudication.
The court directed the regulatory authority to provide all concerned channels with an opportunity for a fresh hearing before issuing a new decision in accordance with the law.
According to the judgment, PEMRA had imposed a fine of Rs1 million on each of several TV channels over allegations that hate speech was broadcast during coverage of the Faizabad sit-in.
The channels subsequently challenged the penalties before the IHC, arguing against PEMRA’s decision.
The high court accepted the appeals, annulled the regulator’s earlier decision and sent the matter back to PEMRA. The authority has been directed to reconsider the case after hearing the parties and ensuring their right to be heard.
The Faizabad sit-in took place in November 2017 at the junction connecting Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The Supreme Court’s judgment concerning the sit-in had also issued directions relating to the role of the media and PEMRA.
