Case Update Status

The transmission was restored after March 7, 2023.

Summary of Case

"The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday ordered the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and cable operators to restore the transmission of ARY News immediately. According to ARY news, Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan suspended PEMRA’s orders and ordered immediate restoration of ARY News transmission. Barrister Ayan Memon said the SHC bench heard the plea of ARY News and issued directives to PEMRA and cable operators to restore the ARY News transmission immediately. Ayan Memon further said that ARY News moved SHC against the orders of PEMRA. The SHC has suspended the orders of the PEMRA. The judgment will be sent to the PEMRA through email, Memon added. The suspension of the ARY News transmission sparked protests across the country, and the decision was widely condemned. On Sunday, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) suspended the licence of the ARY News for broadcasting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s statement in the headline slot of 9:00 pm. The suspension order read, “It has been observed that M/s ARY Communications Ltd. (ARY News) on March 05, 2023, in its news bulletin at 9:00 p.m. aired clips of Mr Imran Khan’s speech delivered at Zaman Park, Lahore, today. ARY News aired referred to content in willful defiance to the Prohibition Order.”"

Category of Incident

Censorship

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

Reported By

ARY News

Date of incident

5

Month

March

Year

2023

Name of affected person

No person was affected

Other affected persons

Not other person affected

Name of affected organization

ARY News

Other affected organizations

No other organization was affected

Action by

Sindh High Court (SHC)

City

Nationwide

Province

Nationwide

Designation

Media Organization

Professional category

Not Applicable

Age of victim

Not applicable as PEMRA banned the broadcasting of ARY news.

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Yes

Court where case was presented: Sindh High Court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Not Available

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Not Available

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not required to contact

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Not required to contact

Employer organization

Not required to contact

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Not required to contact

Press club 2: N/A

Press club 3: N/A