Former Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Absar Alam has alleged that he was under pressure from ex-spymaster Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in.
“PEMRA officials were under pressure from serving officers and the applicant-in-person received calls from the then DG(C) Major General Faiz Hamid and/or his subordinates complaining that their requests were not acceded to by the applicant-in-person,” Alam said in his statement, along with the affidavit, submitted to the Supreme Court.
The former PEMRA chief claimed that the ex-ISI chief had asked to take action against journalist Najam Sethi and completely blackout Hussain Haqqani from TV channels. But both demands remained unmet, he added.
The apex court in its decision on February 6, 2019 wrapped up a suo motu case of the 2017 Faizabad sit-in staged by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, directing the government, law enforcers, intelligence agencies and the army’s media wing to operate within their mandate.
His reply comes a couple of days after the federal government told the Supreme Court that it has formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the Faizabad sit-in.
Earlier this month, the apex court provided another chance to all parties to submit in writing if they want to disclose facts pertaining to the case.
