In a first, FIR lodged against ARY News anchor Sadaf Abdul Jabbar
The IHC CJ Justice Athar Minallah directed PEMRA to restore ARY News transmission with an hour.
A female TV anchor of ARY News, Sadaf Abdul Jabbar was booked in a case after the private news channel faced the wrath of the coalition government allegedly over the coverage of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s political campaigns.
It is the first time that the first information report (FIR) was lodged against a female TV anchor in Pakistan. The details of the FIR were not yet disclosed.
However, sources said that she became the victim of undeclared and unannounced censorship by the coalition government for questioning the legality of Shahbaz Gill’s arrest and revengeful moves against Imran Khan-led PTI.
Contempt of court continues as ARY News yet to be restored on SHC orders
The TV anchor confirmed the registration of an FIR against her in a Twitter message, “It’s been almost a month since ARY News shut down. Despite the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) order, the transmission has not been restored. And in the latest update, they have filed FIR against me.”
It’s been almost a month since ARY News shut down. Despite the SHC order, the transmission has not been restored. And in the latest update, they have filed FIR against me. #ARYNews #ary_کی_بندش_نامنظور
— Sadaf Jabbar (@sadafaj) August 31, 2022
It is pertinent to mention here that the transmission of ARY News is suspended across Pakistan for 24 days despite the SHC’s orders to the concerned authorities to restore it.
IHC orders immediate restoration
While hearing the contempt case filed by ARY News, the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah ordered the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to restore ARY News across Pakistan within an hour.
The IHC CJ Justice Athar Minallah asked the PEMRA chairman to appear before the court on Monday if he once again fails to restore ARY News transmission today.
The suspension of ARY News transmission was witnessed after the Ministry of Interior cancelled the NOC of the private news channel without serving any notice.
