While acceding plea of a young promising lawyer Syed Shabaz Shah Friday seeking implementation of Access to the Media (Deaf) Persons Act, 2022 in order to protect constitutional fundamental right of deaf persons, the Islamabad High Court issued notices to federal government in the matter.
Advocate High Court Syed Shahbaz Shah has invoked jurisdiction of the IHC on behalf of a deaf person Sohail Ahmed making Federal Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) as respondents.
The petitioner sought implementation of the Act, 2022 under which all private and state-run broadcasters are required to air news bulletin with sign language interpreters to ensure special persons’ access to the media.
It is pertinent to mention that under the law after six months of the commencement of the Act it was mandatory for federal government to disallow dissemination of any news bulletin on the national broadcaster, state or private run electronic media, private television channels, Cable TV or any other broadcast media without Pakistan sign language interpreters. It has also mentioned in the Act that after one year of the commencement of the Act, the government will not allow to broadcast any program, entertainment, advertisement, talk show, drama, film or any other pictorial segment on the national broadcaster, media, private television channels, cable TV or any other broadcast media without Pakistan sign language interpreters. Besides it was also mandatory under the Act for government and private media houses to appoint sign language interpreters within six months after commencement of the Act.
Advocate Syed Shahbaz Shah appeared before single-member bench of the IHC’s Chief Justice Aamer Farooq saying under Section 3 of the Act, after six months of the commencement of the Act, no bulletin is to be broadcasted unless is accompanied by Pakistan sign language interpreters.
Seeking the court directives in the matter, Advocate Shah contended that the respondents failed to implement the legislation in true letter and spirit so far. Terming the negligence of the government in the matter as sheer violation of fundamental rights of deaf persons of Pakistan, Advocate Shah urged the court to direct the respondent to get the provisions of the Act implemented without delay.
After hearing arguments of Advocate Shah, the Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued notices to the respondents saying “Notice to the respondents, who shall file report and para-wise comments/reply, so as to reach this Court before the next date of hearing”. Later the bench directed the fixation branch to re-list the hearing in the case after summer vacation, 2023.
