IHC directs PEMRA Council to address Axact complaints within 30 days

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 29 May 2017

The IHC has directed PEMRA's Council of Complaints to address Axact's grievances in a timely manner. Axact claims rival media has made unfounded accusations against them.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday directed PEMRA’s Council of Complaints to address all of Axact’s complaints within 30 days.

The case relates to a petition filed by Axact (parent company of BOL News) that said rival channels and newspapers – Geo, Jang, The News, Dunya News and Express News made baseless allegations against them.

Geo journalists Syed Talat Hussain and Shahzeb Khanzada, and Umar Cheema of The News, were named as respondents as was PEMRA.

The petition said that despite their complaints PEMRA did not take any action against these media houses.

Geo, Jang, Express and Dunya started a baseless campaign against Axact, the petition said, pointing out the court acquitted Axact over these allegations on October 21, 2016. But despite this these media groups and their employees were continuing their campaign against Axact.

The petition had sought action against Geo, Express News and Dunya, and cancellation of their licenses.

It also sought action against Talat Hussain, Shahzeb Khanzada, and Umar Cheema.

For failing to perform its duties according to law, the petition requested the government be ordered to look into the affairs of PEMRA.

KEY POINTS:

• IHC directed PEMRA to resolve complaints in 30 days.
• Axact filed a petition against rival media for false allegations.
• Key respondents include journalists from Geo and The News.
• The court previously acquitted Axact of similar allegations in 2016.
• The petition calls for action against media houses and their licenses.