The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued contempt of court notices to the Chief Executive Officer of ARY Network, Salman Iqbal, anchor Mubashir Lucman, acting chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Pervez Rathore and Secretary, Information, and summoned them to appear in person in the next hearing.
According to a Geo News report, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui issued the notices after hearing a petition filed by the District Bar against the ARY Network for broadcasting anti-judiciary content.
The petitioner stated that the programmes containing anti-judiciary content were broadcast from May 22 to 31 criticising Supreme Court'judge Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja.
Justice Shaukat Aziz remarked that contempt proceedings are lawful as the programmes broadcast on ARY were an attack on superior judiciary.
The court ordered the concerned parties to appear in the court to explain why the channel telecast such malicious programmes for ten days, and why the regulatory authority did not intervene.
They will appear before the court in the first week of July.
