On January 8, the Islamabad High Court granted the Attorney General of Pakistan an additional week to submit written comments in a case concerning PEMRA’s directive requiring television broadcasters to pay five percent of their annual advertising revenue. The stay order against the implementation of this levy remains in effect.

During the hearing, Assistant Attorney General Imran Farooq appeared before Justice Saman Rifat Imtiaz and requested time to file a written response. The court accepted the request, granting one week for the submission. The case, initially reserved for judgment, was reopened due to procedural oversight.

The petitions, filed by the Pakistan Broadcasters Association and eight television channels, contest notices issued by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. The petitioners argue that PEMRA lacks legal authority to impose such a levy, as the regulatory body already collects licence and annual fees. They maintain that the demand, based on Schedule B of the PEMRA Rules 2009, amounts to taxation, which is beyond PEMRA’s mandate.

Previously, the court had reserved its decision after hearing the arguments. However, upon review, it was noted that no notice had been issued to the Attorney General, a necessary step when the constitutional validity of statutory rules is under challenge. Consequently, the court summoned the Attorney General to assist in the matter on January 7.

The Islamabad High Court has maintained a stay order on PEMRA’s notices since April 2022, following the broadcasters’ initial challenge. According to the petitioners, the notices seek the retrospective payment of approximately two billion rupees over 13 years, which was never previously demanded under their licence terms.