SC suspends IHC’s order
RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Monday suspended Islamabad High Court’s order to seal the offices of two private TV channels, which were functional in the residential areas of Islamabad.
A single bench of the IHC comprising Justice Shaukat Siddiqui had directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to seal the office of two TV channels. The civic body in compliance with the IHC order sealed the offices.
The anchorpersons of both the channels then approached the apex court against the IHC verdict. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heard their appeals at 6:00pm and ordered the CDA to de-seal the offices of the TV channels.
The IHC in its verdict ordered the CDA if the channels fail to vacate the premises within two hours then seal them. The offices were later sealed after the media houses failed to comply with the high court’s order.
The IHC in July last ordered the CDA more than once to ensure that all media houses operating in residential areas are moved out and stop the nonconforming use of premises failing which action may be initiated against them in accordance with the CDA law and regulations which include sealing and cancellation of the leases.
The two TV channels filed a petition before the apex court, claiming that the IHC had issued the order “without listening” to the media houses. The counsel for the channels further argued that the sealing of the offices had led to disruption in transmissions.
The apex court ordered the CDA to de-seal the offices and summoned the record of IHC proceedings of the case. The top court also ordered the CDA chairman to appear before a three-member SC bench, to be headed by the Chief Justice, on Tuesday (today).