After the Islamabad High Court, the Sindh High Court also allowed journalists to report on court proceedings, but asked them to ensure following “the guidelines and law”.
The SHC’s decision came as it heard a petition of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists challenging the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s restriction on airing of court proceedings on news channels.
The high court said the apex court’s guidelines should be adopted while reporting as the Pemra could take action upon violation of the rules and guidelines established by the SC.
Meanwhile, on a similar plea by the Press Association and PFUJ, the Islamabad High Court had Wednesday assured journalists that there was no ban on court reporting but “irresponsible” court reporting.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said: “There is no ban on court reporting. The media can report the court proceedings.”
The chief justice, however, maintained that the ban was, in fact, on “irresponsible reporting”. “The problem is only with running sensational tickers,” said Justice Farooq.
The petitions were filed in the high courts after the electronic media watchdog issued two notifications ordering TV channels to not run reporting of court proceedings and for reporters to only report courts’ written orders.
