IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN 
(Appellate Jurisdiction) 
 
PRESENT: 
MR. JUSTICE DOST MUHAMMAD KHAN  
MR. JUSTICE QAZI FAEZ ISA 
 
 
Civil Petition No.2117 of 2016 
(On 
appeal 
from 
the 
judgment 
dated 
28.6.2016 passed by the High Court of Sindh 
at Karachi in M.A. No.35/16) 
 
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority 
 
….Petitioner  
VERSUS  
Independent Media Corporation, Limited 
….Respondents  
 
 
For the petitioner: 
Mr. Kashif Hanif, ASC 
 
 
 
 
Mr. Mehr Khan Malik, AOR (absent) 
 
 
 
 
Mr. Absar Alam, Chairman, PEMRA 
 
For the respondent: 
Mr. Jam Asif Mehmood Lar, ASC 
 
 
 
 
Mr. Qutab-ud-Din Saim Hashmi, ASC 
 
 
 
 
Syed Rifaqat Hussain Shah, AOR 
 
For Respondents 1-3: Mr. Omair Syed Head (Litigation) 
 
Date of hearing:  
4.7.2016 
 
ORDER 
 
 
  
Dost Muhammad Khan, J.— At the very outset, the 
learned counsel for the parties agreed that let the main CPLA be 
decided in the following terms:- 
(i) 
That 
so 
far 
as 
the 
suspension 
of 
the 
show/program for three days by PEMRA is 
concerned, due to injunction order of the learned 
High Court of Sindh a very narrow margin of time 
is left and because the matter is listed for hearing 
today before the said Court, hence to that extent 
the petition has almost become infructuous.  
(ii) 
The rest of the four charges are still alive and to 
be inquired into/investigated by the COC and after 
receiving 
the 
recommendations 
the 
PEMRA 
(competent authority) would look into it while 
complying with all the rules and provisions of law 
CP 2117/16 
2 
on the subject and will also consider the effect of 
the apology to be tendered publically by the 
Channel and through print media.  
2. 
  
During course of hearing, it came to our notice that many 
other channels, like the one under consideration, have not installed the 
censoring devices, particularly time delaying mechanism to cut off and 
expunge the offending part of the live show/program and bring it in 
conformity with the PEMRA rules and provisions of the Ordinance.  
3. 
  
It was stated at the bar that a team of experts would soon 
inspect all the channels to ensure that such device i.e. time delaying 
mechanism is in place so that undesirable and offending programs or 
spoken words are not aired and the same are blocked.  
4. 
  
As the rest of the four allegations/charges fall within the 
domain of PEMRA, therefore, it may proceed with the same according 
to the law and rules on the subject and to conclude the matter as was 
agreed at the bar within 30 days, which shall commence after Eid 
holidays.  
 
Needless to remark that the respondent may submit reply within 
10 days, after Eid vacations.  
5. 
  
In view of these arrangements, the appeal filed by the 
respondent before the High Court of Sindh has become infructuous and 
may be disposed of accordingly.  
 
Petition is converted into appeal and disposed of.  
 
 
 
Judge  
 
Judge  
Islamabad, the  
4th July, 2016 
Nisar/- 
Not Approved For Reporting.  
 
 
