CJP does not believe in ‘media control’

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has said that he did not believe in media control, but mutual respect.

CJP Bandial gave this remark over newly appointed Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Shehzad Ata Elahi's contention regarding the regularisation of social media.

During the hearing of former prime minister Imran Khan’s petition against recent amendments in the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, the AGP apprised the special bench that yesterday (Monday) he issued a clarification regarding chief justice’s remarks which appeared on social media, adding that the social media misreported his statement.

Justice Bandial while appreciating the gesture said: “Yes, we read it in the newspapers.”

AGP Elahi said this (misreporting) should be nipped in the bud.

He reminded the bench of two SC judgments’ guidelines set for reporting on the pending cases.

He continued that the dilemma was that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority conducted inquiries on misreporting in TV channels, and there were also regulations for the print media, but there were no regulations for incorrect reporting on Twitter and Facebook.

The chief justice said that he saw some material on social media himself. “I take it with patience and tolerance.”

He said media should be careful about it.

“I don’t believe in control, but it requires mutual respect.”

Makhdoom Ali Khan, counsel for the federal government, urged the bench for live streaming in high-profile political cases.

The CJP told that that matter would be taken up in the full court meeting soon.
Meanwhile, the AGP apprised the bench that the PTI MNAs did not receive their salaries since April. However, they got travel allowance and other perks, he added.