IHC allows media access to Imran's jail trial

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court has directed that journalists be prohibited from interviewing Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister and founder chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, during his jail trial but has raised concerns about the legality of restricting media coverage of the trial.

Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb remarked that while the trial court judge has the authority to regulate proceedings and manage any disruptions caused by journalists, it is not the responsibility of the jail administration. The court was hearing a petition challenging the ban on journalists' access to the PTI founder during his trial.

A journalist informed the court that despite adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs), they were not permitted to cover the court proceedings related to the PTI founder's cases. According to SOPs, a focal person provides the names of seven journalists, but the jail administration has barred these journalists from entering the facility to report on the trial.

Justice Aurangzeb stated that regulating the proceedings of the jail trial is the responsibility of the judge, not the jail administration. Denying journalists access to cover the trial proceedings would contravene the principles of an open court. He instructed the Adiala Jail administration to comply with the court's decision and allow the seven journalists nominated by the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association to cover the jail trial.

While the court has ruled that journalists should not be allowed to interview the defendant, it has expressed concerns that banning media coverage could undermine the legal validity of the trial.