Following the example set by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the Sindh High Court (SHC) permitted media coverage of court proceedings, subject to the requirement that they adhere to “the guidelines and law.”
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) petitioned the Supreme Handling Court (SHC) to overturn the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) ban on news networks showing court hearings. The SHC granted the appeal.
The supreme court’s recommendations should be followed while reporting, the high court declared, because the Pemra has the authority to take action when the norms and guidelines set out by the SC are broken.
In the meantime, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reassured journalists that there was no prohibition on court reporting, just on “irresponsible” court reporting, in response to a similar appeal by the Press Association and PFUJ.
Aamer Farooq, Chief Justice of the IHC, stated: “Court reporting is not prohibited. The court hearings can be covered by the media.”
The chief justice insisted that “irresponsible reporting” was the real target of the prohibition. According to Justice Farooq, “the only issue is with running sensational tickers.”
Following two notices from the electronic media watchdog instructing TV broadcasters to refrain from airing court proceedings coverage and to limit their reporting to written instructions from the courts, the petitions were filed in the high courts.
The media watchdog instructed all licensees of satellite news channels in a letter dated May 21 that no content that might potentially influence a court’s decision, such as opinions, comments, or suggestions regarding the future of the topic under investigation, should be broadcast.
