Sindh High Court declares suspension of TV licenses illegal

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 4 years ago

KARACHI—Sindh High Court has declared the power of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman to suspend the licenses of television channels as illegal, Express Tribune reported.

"We declare that the powers of PEMRA under section 30 PEMRA could not be delegated to Chairman or any other official of PEMRA by dint of section 13 PEMRA ordinance for suspension of broadcast media licences without framing of rules," said the judgement by the high court.

"Henceforth, the decision of Authority to this extent conveyed by minutes dates 24th April 2020 is also declared null and void. Consequently, all action taken by Chairman pursuant to the delegated powers of suspension of broadcast licenses are struck down."

The ruling comes after a petition was filed by the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) through advocate Faisal Siddiqui.

Don't Miss These

Sohrab Barkat’s airport arrest defies court directive

November 27, 2025: Journalist Sohrab Barkatt was detained at Islamabad Airport despite a court order removing his name from the PNIL, raising concerns about rule-of-law gaps and media freedoms.

Najam Sethi to debut new show on Dunya News

November 26, 2025: Najam Sethi will host a new prime-time show on Dunya News following his departure from Samaa TV, signaling a key move in Pakistan’s competitive media landscape.

Shalimar Recording Company to terminate all staff

November 26, 2025: Shalimar Recording and Broadcasting Company (SRBC) will cease operations and terminate all personnel by Nov 30, 2025, as ordered under court-supervised liquidation, affecting hundreds of employees.

Lahore journalists reported missing after by-election coverage

November 25, 2025: Two Lahore-based digital journalists went missing after covering the alleged by-election irregularities, with colleagues alleging police involvement and no court appearance reported.

Journalists face new risks and opportunities from X’s location labels

November 24, 2025: Journalists should brace for both safety risks and new verification tools after X’s 'About This Account' feature begins to disclose the location of user accounts.

New study shows alarming decline in press freedom in Pakistan

November 20, 2025: New data from the Worlds of Journalism Report shows rising threats, political pressures, and shrinking media freedom for Pakistani journalists working in an increasingly hostile environment.

Shahzeb Khanzada faces lawsuit threat in Canada over video

November 19, 2025: Shahid Bhatti threatens legal action against Shahzeb Khanzada and his wife in Canada, claiming their actions endangered his life and violated Canadian law.

Journalists condemn police handling of Imran Khan’s sisters

November 19, 2025: Journalists across Pakistan condemn police for allegedly roughing up Imran Khan’s sisters outside Adiala Jail, sparking outrage and raising questions about rights and accountability.

Newsroom

Tunisian commentator Sonia Dahmani released after detention

November 28, 2025 Tunisian commentator Sonia Dahmani is released after over a year in detention, raising questions on press freedom, remaining trials, and EU calls for journalist protections.

The shift from text to video reshapes journalism standards

November 28, 2025 As newsrooms move from text to video, journalists face new challenges in accuracy, ethics, and verification. Here is how the shift is reshaping journalism standards today.

EU states move to boost independent journalism visibility

November 28, 2025 EU states back stronger rules to increase online visibility for independent journalism, aiming to protect media pluralism and safeguard access to reliable information across digital platforms.

India Supreme Court calls for an independent social media regulator

November 28, 2025 India’s Supreme Court urges the creation of an independent regulator and pre-screening rules for social media content, signaling major shifts in digital media oversight and compliance.

Turkey court acquits four journalists after Istanbul protest coverage

November 28, 2025 A Turkish court has acquitted four journalists arrested during Istanbul’s 2025 protests, a rare legal win for press freedom but a warning about chronic risks for reporters covering demonstrations.