Altaf media ban: Jahangir refuses written apology for ‘critical’ remarks

She says she had not wholeheartedly accepted the banning order

LAHORE: Proceedings in the hearing of a plea seeking media censorship of Mutahidda Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain’s speeches reached a deadlock on Friday after MQM’s counsel Asma Jahangir refused to tender a written apology for her critical remarks about a short order of the bench. The bench had barred print and electronic media organisations from covering Hussain’s speeches.

Earlier, the petitioners’ counsel, Advocate Azhar Siddique and Advocate Aftab Virk, submitted that Advocate Jahangir had used contemptuous language in referring to the case during a television programme. They also presented to the bench a recording of the programme. They said it had become a routine for Jahangir to mock court orders.

When asked for an explanation, Jahangir expressed her regret and apologised to the bench for her remarks about the order. However, she refused to tender a written apology. She said the order banning the MQM chief’s media coverage was based on faulty reasoning, and that she did not accept it wholeheartedly. “My [verbal] apology is not for   the judges on the bench. I’ve done so in view of the dignity of the institution [judiciary],” she said. She said she no longer trusted the bench with an impartial trial.

At this, Justice Naqvi said to Jahangir: “You have double standards. You do not do what you say.” He said Jahangir had committed contempt of court and should submit an apology in writing. She refused, saying that she could not write down something she did not accepted wholeheartedly.

Meanwhile, lawyers from both sides started chanting slogans against one another.

On request of Lahore High Court Bar Association president Pir Masood Chishti the hearing was adjourned till March 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th,  2016.