Supreme Court ordered immediate withdrawal of notices issued by FIA to journalists. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz held a hearing on the Spontaneous Notice related to the harassment of journalists in the Supreme Court, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musrat Hilali were also part of the bench.
Press Association of Supreme Court (PAS) and Islamabad following the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sent notices to journalists and YouTubers on the alleged campaign once morest Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa. The High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA) took notice of the alleged harassment of journalists following passing a joint resolution and meeting the newly elected representatives of both organizations in the chamber.
Officials of the Attorney General, Press Association of the Supreme Court are present on the rostrum.
When the hearing started, the Chief Justice inquired how many cases there are? On which the Attorney General said that these are four applications.
The Chief Justice said that there are representatives of Pakistan Bar of Journalist Defense Committee.
The Attorney General said that the Journalist Defense Committee is now over.
The Chief Justice told the Attorney General that he will look into your application later.
The Chief Justice said, “Look at the system of nature, we took automatic notice in court number two, but the matter went to the 5-member bench for the authority of automatic notice. The 5-member bench decided to take automatic notice of 184 three.” The authority lies only with the Chief Justice.
The Chief Justice said that not only journalists but also judges have freedom of expression. Instead of dealing with the case, the Supreme Court kept it in cold storage from 2021. Tell me what was your request then and what is now.
The Chief Justice said that I am saying once more and once more how long will we repeat the mistakes of the past, we are ready to admit the mistakes, here we see only an opportunity.
He further said that I should take all the mistakes on my head? I will not raise it at all, if I have made a mistake, then point the finger at me, if you don’t point the finger, I will not be corrected, if you criticize, then I will be corrected.
After that, the Chief Justice ordered that the notices issued by the FIA to the journalists regarding the criticism of the Supreme Court should be withdrawn.
The Chief Justice while talking to the Attorney General gave important remarks and said that if you make fun of the Judiciary, it will harm the country. .
The Chief Justice said that journalists and ordinary citizens can also criticize the decisions, illegal criticism of the decisions is also allowed.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that YouTube has no code of conduct, for TV there is PEMRA’s code of conduct, court decisions are public property, use of language should be careful.
The Chief Justice said that Arshad Sharif’s case can be put on the next hearing, at this time he does not want to give any orders that conflict with the ongoing orders in Arshad Sharif’s case.
The Chief Justice said that if the government is doing any good by stopping the criticism, then I am strongly once morest it, the government is harming me by taking action once morest the journalists. Saying wrong is not contempt of court, if a journalist incites violence, it is a different matter.
The Chief Justice ordered that the cases registered on the basis of criticism be immediately withdrawn.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that what happens in the thumbnail of YouTube does not happen in the video.
The Chief Justice said that along with hate speeches, some other things also happen only in Pakistan, why does the government not do anything once morest extremist thinking? Why aren’t those who prevent women from voting and polio shots caught? Why did not catch the fatwa to prevent women from voting?
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that if the media wants to make a code of conduct, then tell me whose help is needed?
The Chief Justice asked whether the Press Association denies any false news.
The Chief Justice said that if a defamation case happens, there will be no decision for fifty years.
Hearing Order
In the order of today’s hearing, the Supreme Court has asked for a report on the action once morest journalists Asad Toor, Matiullah Jan, Imran Shafqat and Aamir Mir.
The court said in the order that it should be told what progress has been made in the cases so far.
The court was informed that the accused belonged to a sensitive agency under the federal government, the investigating officer ensured that the journalists were informed regarding the FIA notices, that the notices were issued for criticizing the court. The Supreme Court said in the order that it is the right of every citizen and journalist to criticize, if the matter is limited to criticism then no action should be taken once morest anyone.
The Attorney General assured the government not to act on the criticism, following which the court restrained the government from taking any action once morest the summoned journalists.
The court directed the DGFIA to meet the journalists.
The court questioned the FIA officials as to why journalists have been called.
The court adjourned the hearing of the automatic notice once morest harassment of journalists till tomorrow and asked the federal government to submit a report once morest the violence once morest journalists within two weeks.
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2024-07-16 18:26:41
