Axact’s TV channel directors failed to show source of money, SHC told

KARACHI: The Additional attorney general on Monday argued before the Sindh High Court that Axact’s channel license was cancelled due to lack of security clearance by the federal government as channel's directors failed to disclose their source of investment to run the TV channel.

While, concluding arguments on the application of M/s Labaik against cancellation of its TV license by the Pemra due to lack of security clearance, the additional attorney general, Salman Talibuddin, submitted that the SHC had also directed the petitioner to first decide the security clearance issue prior to approving the license of the channel. He submitted that the security clearance of the TV channel is a mandatory requirement for issuance of the license but the channel's directors failed to justify their source of income and investment for telecasting the TV transmission.

He submitted the TV channel is being run on foreign funding and any person funded or sponsored by a foreign government or organisation could not be granted a broadcasting license and the Pemra has the right to cancel the license of TV channel which was being telecast on foreign investment.