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SHC extends stay against PEMRA ban on BBC news broadcast

Karachi: Justice Azizullah Memon of the Sindh High Court (SHC), on Friday, extended a stay order till Monday obtained against the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) order to ban the broadcast of BBC’s news bulletins by a local FM radio channel. The channel had been airing BBC news bulletins since June 22 in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan. Counsel for the appellant Adnan I Chaudhry stated that PEMRA had previously allowed the channel to air BBC’s news bulletins and that they did not violate PEMRA Ordinance 2002 or the license conditions of the FM channel. Therefore, the restriction imposed by PEMRA was against the fundamental right of freedom of speech. Chaudhry said that PEMRA had been informed about the contract signed between BBC and the radio channel and they had approved the contract. The SHC’s single bench, after hearing the final arguments of the appellant’s counsel, adjourned the matter for August 6, when counsel for PEMRA Kashif Haneef would present his argument. ppi

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