ISLAMABAD -  A contempt of court petition was moved by Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here on Thursday.
Chairman PEMRA Chaudhry Rashid Ahmad maintained in the contempt petition that he was being barred from entering his office despite the stay orders issued by a single bench of IHC on December 16.
In the petition, the Chairman PEMRA alleged that Rao Tehsin who was appointed by the federal government as new PEMRA chief, in connivance with Secretary Information and Secretary Establishment had been creating hurdles in the implementation of an IHC restraining order that had temporarily restored him to his slot.
He stated that that when he had proceeded to his office at the PEMRA headquarters Islamabad on December 17 he started receiving threats from some miscreants.
He maintained that Rao Tehsin had instigated PEMRA employees who had blocked his entry into the office and took law into their hands.
The Chairman told the court that then he filed an application before the Inspector General of Police, reported the incident and sought personal protection.
It is pertinent to mention here that former secretary information and broadcasting Chaudhry Rashid was appointed as Chairman PEMRA on January 26, 2013 by the former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government. Federal government on December 15 had terminated his contract and appointed one Tehsin Ali Khan an executive member PEMRA as acting chairman.
Later, Rashid challenged his termination before the IHC bench through his counsel Barrister Wasim Sajjad.
The IHC bench after preliminary hearing suspended the termination orders of Ch Rashid Ahmad on December 16 and issued notices to the respondents Secretary Information and broadcasting, Secretary Establishment division, PEMRA and the acting chairman PEMRA Tehsin Ali Khan.
In this contempt of court application, the appellant has prayed to the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the respondents.
Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan will conduct the hearing of this matter on Friday (today).
Meanwhile, a single bench of IHC adjourned the hearing of an application moved by PEMRA for early hearing of the petition related to the removal of Chairman PEMRA.
During the hearing of the application, Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan remarked that in this connection, directions of the court are much clear and he is the chairman who was given relief.
Then, the court deferred the hearing till the second week of January for further proceedings.