SC asks Pemra to put names of media owners, officers on website

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ensure putting names of media owners, directors, chief executive officers and shareholders on its website.
A two-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed resumed hearing on implementation of media commission recommendations as well as formulation of code of conduct for media.
The court issued notice to President Pakistan Broadcasting Association (PBA) and summoned him on June 2. In pursuance of the court’s earlier order, Deputy Attorney General Aamir Rehman submitted report pertaining to the committee, constituted for preparing draft for formulation of code of conduct for media.
Secretary Information Muhammad Azam also appeared before the court and informed that the committee constituted by the prime minister regarding formulating code of conduct for media has prepared a legal draft on the matter which was forwarded to the Senate committee. The Senate committee has given its comments and suggested for taking viewpoint of president PBA.
To a question, the secretary information said that all the members of the said committee were unanimous on the legal draft of code of conduct for media. He further said that president PBA did attend the initial meeting of the committee, however, he did not attend other meetings of the committee.
Meanwhile, the court issued notice to president PBA and summoned him on June 2. During the hearing, a report on behalf of Pemra was also submitted regarding its employees as well as expenditures. However, the court expressed dissatisfaction over the report and directed Pemra to submit fresh report. The court directed Pemra to put the names of media owners, directors, chief executives, officials and shareholders on its website and adjourned the hearing till today (Friday).