A young pro bono lawyer Shahbaz Shah is committed to make it possible that people at the helm of affair should fulfil their job description in the large interest of public as he has urged the Islamabad High Court directives for private and state-run broadcasters to air news bulletin with sign language interpreters to ensure special persons’ access to the media. Resultantly, Islamabad High Court (IHC) has asked additional secretary Cabinet Division to appear in person to apprise what effort has been made to implement the law in the matter so far.
Advocate High Court Syed Shahbaz Shah has sought implementation of Access to the Media (Deaf) Persons Act, 2022 to protect constitutional fundamental right of deaf persons while invoking jurisdiction of the IHC on behalf of a deaf person Sohail Ahmed. He made Federal Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) as respondents.
Appearing on behalf of Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) before single-member bench of the IHC’s Chief Justice Aamer Farooq Friday, advocate Syed Nayyar Abbas Rizvi apprised that a written reply has been submitted. Rizvi further submitted that the PEMRA has written various letters to the electronic media channels, however, is unable to implement the provisions of the Act unless the Board as provided in Section 5 of the Act is formed. He apprised the bench that the PEMRA as well as the Board are to operate hand in glove for the implementation of the provisions of the 2022, Act. The Chief Justice said in the order, “When confronted, learned Deputy Attorney General candidly submitted that representative of the Ministry of Information is present in the Court, however, as per his stance that business under the Access to the Media (Deaf) Persons Act, 2022 has not been allocated to the said Ministry. Again upon the inquiry by the Court, the learned Deputy Attorney General apprised the Court that it is the obligation of the Cabinet Division to allocate business to a particular division”. After a brief hearing of the matter the bench said in its order, “In view of referred position, let the Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division, Islamabad appear in person on the next date of hearing to apprise the Court whether allocation has been made till to-date with respect to the business under the Access to the Media (Deaf) Persons Act, 2022”. The matter would be relisted on October 25.
