Plea to stay verdict in Pemra chief case rejected

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Thursday rejected a plea of the federal government to suspend operation of a recent judgement, which struck down appointment of Absar Alam as chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

Justice Shahid Karim, the author of the impugned judgement, observed that the federal government should file an intra court appeal (ICA) if it felt aggrieved by the verdict since Absar Alam had already abandoned the charge.

Representing the government, a deputy attorney general argued before the court that the Pemra would stand dysfunctional if decision of the high court was implemented and finding a new chairman was not possible within the period of 30 days given by the court. He argued that a famous judgment of the Supreme Court (Hamid Mir vs federation) would be violated if impugned verdict of the high court was not stayed. The law officer requested the court to stay the judgment for a period of 30 days.

Advocate Azhar Siddique, who had represented the petition against Mr Alam, opposed the government’s application and said it was based on mala fide intention. He alleged that the government wanted to protect its blue eyed. Justice Shahid Karim dismissed the application of the government for being not maintainable.