Info secy summoned to explain steps taken for journos

IHC wants official to tell court measures being used to prevent cases against media personnel


Our Correspondent September 02, 2022
Islamabad High Court. PHOTO: File

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court on Friday summoned the federal information and broadcasting secretary on September 5 (Monday) in their personal capacity to explain what steps had been taken by the government to stop the registration of criminal cases against journalists.

The court issued the directions on a petition filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against the harassment of media personnel. During the proceedings, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the court had neither allowed anyone to approach, nor had it kept in touch with anyone.
“If anyone wants to meet me, they can meet our registrar,” he added.

He added that the journalists were telling him matters, which even he was unaware of.Justice Minallah further remarked that even if there was something like that, come forward and tell me. “This is the strength of this court for three years. Criticism is the strength of this court, but no one can influence it,” he noted.

“The court has given freedom to talk. If they [journalists] know something, it would be a matter of great pleasure if they share it with me,” he added. The judge further remarked that it was a joy that everyone ran a campaign but there was no influence on this court. “With time, the truth will come out on its own,” he observed.

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Advocate Shah Khawar told the court that  cases were registered against journalists in Karachi and Islamabad. The judge replied that so far we have not been able to restore the Constitution completely.
He added that if that was done, everything would be fine. Senior journalist Afzal Butt said that IHC had decided that the Federal Investigation Agency and PFUJ would look into the cases against media personnel.

However, he added that now the cases were being registered elsewhere. Islamabad High Court Journalist Association President Saqib Bashir said that anchor person was arrested by the police and kept for five days. The police handed the journalist over to the FIA and he stayed there for five days. “It is the government that is doing all this,” he alleged.

The IHC chief inquired about the reason from journalists for not leaving the court. Afzal Butt told the judge that journalists were being picked up and suppressed. “This matter should be stopped,” he added.
The court noted that a report had come from the UN and all of the cases in them are about journalists.

Coincidently, it added, all the cases referred to were under hearing in this court. The names Matiullah Jan, Asad Toor, Absar Alam, Gul Bukhari and others were in this letter. Journalist Lala Asad Pathan said Sabir Shakir and Arshad Sharif were in exile. The court replied that their names were in the UN letter.
The court inquired why the UN was telling us all this, adding that the journalists association, parliament and the federal government would have to think about this matter.

 

 

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