ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to anchor Mubashir Luqman and the chief executive of the ARY news channel for broadcasting a defamatory program against the judiciary on May 29.

A three-member special bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal, directed the Deputy Attorney General to explain as to why no one has been appointed for the post of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) chairman and why it is being run on an ad-hoc basis.

The Deputy AG informed the bench that a committee has been formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to review the code of conduct for both print and electronic media after repeated attacks on the judiciary in the last few months.

The bench observed that after reviewing transcripts of the program aired on May 29 on ARY news channel, there are many things which entail proceedings.

The bench said that the media regulatory authority has been made toothless in the absence of a Pemra chairman which is why there have been repeated attacks on the dignity of judges, adding that no requisite action has been taken as yet.

The bench subsequently adjourned the hearing of the case until September 15.

Lucman has been accused of defaming and ridiculing people, including judges of the higher judiciary, during his talk show.

Earlier on July 7, a local court in Islamabad had issued a bailable arrest warrant against Lucman after he failed to appear before it.

Know more: Bailable arrest warrant issued against Mubashir Lucman again

On July 2, the Islamabad High Court had issued bailable arrest warrants for the CEO of ARY TV channel and Lucman on a plea seeking to bar the channel for airing a programme against the judiciary.

Also read: Arrest warrants issued for Mubashir Lucman, ARY chief