LHC conditionally restores Mubashir Lucman’s suspended program

Published November 17, 2014
TV anchor Mubahisr Lucman appeared in court and apologised for the defamatory programme against the judiciary.
TV anchor Mubahisr Lucman appeared in court and apologised for the defamatory programme against the judiciary.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has conditionally allowed anchorperson Mubashir Lucman to appear on air, after Pemra banned him last month for telecasting scandalous and defamatory programmes against the judiciary.

A five-judge LHC bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi allowed Lucman to continue his programme ‘Khara Such’ after he appeared in court on Monday and apologised for the defamatory show, his lawyer Ramzan Chaudhry said.

“I appeared (in court) with the respondents and pleaded for the mercy of the honourable court. I informed the bench that we will not be contesting the contempt of court notice, that my client had no intention of disrespecting the judiciary. The court was gracious and accepted our apology,” said Chaudhry.

The court has allowed ARY NEWS to air the programme until November 28, the next hearing when the bench will meet for final adjudication of the case.

Pemra had banned ‘Khara Such’ and its host from appearing on any TV program in any capacity on Oct 19 citing orders of the LHC.

The court had placed restrictions on airing of the show and participation of the anchor in any TV programme for airing an interview of Asim Malik, owner of a firm Future Concern, in which serious allegations had been levelled against the judiciary.

Speaking to a local TV channel, Lucman said he respects the judiciary and that he filed a compassionate appeal before the honourable court.

“I am a grateful and I won’t term it a victory or defeat of anyone,” he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Closed doors
Updated 08 Jan, 2025

Closed doors

The nation’s fate has been decided through secret deals for too long, with the result that the citizenry has become increasingly alienated from the state.
Debt burden
08 Jan, 2025

Debt burden

THE federal government’s total debt stock soared by above 11pc year-over-year to Rs70.4tr at the end of November,...
GB power crisis
08 Jan, 2025

GB power crisis

MASS protests are not a novelty in Pakistan, and when the state refuses to listen through the available channels —...
Fragile peace
Updated 07 Jan, 2025

Fragile peace

Those who have lost loved ones, as well as those whose property has been destroyed in the clashes, must get justice.
Captive power cut
07 Jan, 2025

Captive power cut

THE IMF’s refusal to relax its demand for discontinuation of massively subsidised gas supplies to mostly...
National embarrassment
Updated 07 Jan, 2025

National embarrassment

The global eradication of polio is within reach and Pakistan has no excuse to remain an outlier.