ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday assured the Supreme Court (SC) that strict action would be taken against the cable operators for suspending the transmission and changing the position of Geo television channels on the cable network.

A two-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Gulzar Ahmed disposed of the petition, filed by the Independent Media Corporation (IMC) on the behalf of Geo network against the negative propaganda by other channels and for resumption of its transmission on cable networks.

Zahid Malik, the head of the Pemra legal department, assured the apex court that its decision of 2012 would be implemented in letter and spirit. all the regions in the country to take strict action against the cable operators for blocking Geo TV transmission on cable network.

Under the 2012 decision, cable operators cannot block channels without their licence being cancelled or suspended by Pemra.The IMC had filed a Civil Miscellaneous Application (CMA) in the Constitution Petition No 51 of 2010 for revival of the said petition.

It was prayed to the apex court to order the revival of above titled Constitution Petition in the interest of justice, equity and fair play; and may further be pleased to act strictly in accordance with the report of Javed Jabbar appointed as mediator with the consent of the respondents in almost a similar episode and the mediation having been accepted by the respondents for reshuffling or blocking of the petitioner channel be restrained along with any other relief that the august court may graciously deem appropriate.

The court also issued notice to Attorney General for Pakistan for May 28 in another petition, filed by Independent Media Corporation against the negative propaganda by other TV channels.

The petitioner had prayed the court to issue directives to restrain all channels, including Geo, from airing allegations against other channels or media groups.The petition was filed against the backdrop of a smear campaign against the television network by rival media groups kick started after May 14 morning show aired a performance by some Qawwal.

The petitioner prayed to the court to order the law enforcement and investigation agencies and lower courts all over the country to submit copies of all the criminal complaints, FIRs and petitions filed under Section 22A that contained allegations of blasphemy regarding the show.

It was further requested to issue directives for consolidation of all the FIRs that might have been registered in various parts of the country and to restrain the law enforcing and investigating agencies from registering any new case, but to forward all pending and new FIRs containing allegations of blasphemy to the Supreme Court for eventual quashing of proceedings on them.

It was also requested to order the relevant law enforcing agencies in all the provinces to take required steps for protection of the petitioners, management and staff of the Geo, Jang Group, along with their offices all over the country.

The petitioner had made federal government through Interior secretary, chief secretaries of the four provincial governments and Chief Commissioner, Islamabad as respondents. On Monday, Muhammad Akram Sheikh, counsel for Independent Media Corporation explained to the court the whole background of the petition of 2010. What you want now”, Justice Jawwad asked him.

The learned counsel replied that his client’s channels had been blocked in almost 90 percent areas of Pakistan and he wanted to revive the petition of 2010 and resumption of transmission of Geo TV channels.

Meanwhile, the court while taking strong exception to objectionable banners and posters, displayed in various avenues of the federal capital against the judiciary, directed Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) Aftab Sultan and Interior Secretary Shahid Khan to submit a comprehensive report on May 28, explaining as to who were responsible for this act.

Those banners and posters were displayed in the federal capital after Justice Jawwad S Khawaja the other day declined to recuse from the bench hearing the petitions, filed by Independent Media Corporation against the negative campaign by other channels against Geo TV as well as revival of the 2010 petition.

Meanwhile, DG IB Aftab Sultan appeared before the court and informed that he had been also victim of such things but he had often ignored it.

Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said that he was the eyes and ears of the federal government so what he had done in this regard. The court asked him to submit a comprehensive report by May 28. The court also observed that thanks God only banners were displayed and bombs were not placed.

Meanwhile, Mubashir Luqman when wanted to speak something, the court asked him that he had filed an application with the chief justice so when the chief justice gave any decision, the court would also hear him.

During the hearing Interior Secretary Shahid Khan also appeared before the court and submitted that he had no information regarding the objectionable banners. The court however, observed that interior secretary was responsible for the internal security of the country.Interior secretary assured the court that he would look into the matter and submit report. Meanwhile, the court also ordered him to file a report before it by May 28.