Islamabad court overturns fines imposed on TV channels in hate speech case — Dawn

The Islamabad High Court in Pakistan has overturned the Pemra electronic media regulator’s decision to fine several television channels accused of broadcasting hate speech during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in protest. The court remanded the case for a fresh hearing and ordered the regulator to ensure the channels’ right to be heard.

Fresh hearing at Pemra

As Dawn reports, the 15-page written ruling was issued by Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas on appeals filed by the television channels. The court allowed the appeals and remanded the case to Pemra.

The regulator must hold a fresh hearing involving all the television channels concerned and issue a new decision in accordance with the law after considering the parties’ positions.

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Fines of 1 million rupees each

Previously, Pemra fined various television channels 1 million rupees each over the alleged broadcasting of hate speech during the Faizabad protest. The channels challenged the sanctions before the Islamabad High Court.

The Faizabad sit-in protest took place in November 2017 at the intersection of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. In its ruling in the case, Pakistan’s Supreme Court also issued directions concerning the media and Pemra.