The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) not to allow airing of any television programme or talk show containing malicious content against judges and the institution of judiciary.
Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh of the LHC passed this order while hearing a writ petition seeking action against parliamentarians who make ‘malicious’ statements against the judiciary.
Justice Sheikh also directed the federal government, information ministry, and Pemra to submit their replies in this regard on November 5, the date of next hearing.
During the hearing, Justice Sheikh also remarked that Article 68 of the Constitution had restrained even the parliament from holding debate about judges of the superior courts.
Advocate Azhar Siddique, the counsel for the petitioner argued that many politicians had been carrying out malicious campaign against the Chief Justice of Pakistan and other judges and all news channels and newspapers had been reporting their press conferences without verifying the allegations.
The counsel said PPP Senator Faisal Raza Abidi, Sindh Minister Sharjeel Memon, MPAs Shaukat Basra and Raja Riaz stood disqualified under Article 63(1g) and 62(1f) because they had ridiculed the judiciary in various TV programmes.
The counsel argued that the mechanism for holding the judiciary accountable and for their removal from the office had been clearly laid down in the Constitution.
Therefore suspending or forcibly removing or compelling the judges to resign through a media campaign was totally unconstitutional, illegal and an attempt to ruin the institution of judiciary, he added.
He said the Supreme Court in its judgment against the Contempt of Court Law 2012 had ruled that the parliament could not discuss conduct of the judges.
Advocate Azhar Siddique asked the court to order Pemra to suspend licence of any national news channel that showed any such interview or press conference containing defamatory statements or allegations against the judges.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (15)
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To whom Pakistani courts are answerable? They are one of main reason of stalled justice in Pakistan. Hundred of thousands of cases are pending and judiciary in inefficient to incapable to handle them. To whom should go to complain against judges?. SC is busy in politics and ignores to overhaul the judicial system.
It is Arsalan Iftikhar and Co, and their racket of blackmailing, extortion, and intimidation, which resulted in the ridicule of the court. You can't bar people from reporting the crimes of a criminal. In this case, the CEO of Arsalan Iftikhar should have resigned or the court should have suspended him, until investigations were complete to avoid him influencing the outcome of the case. Instead, we have seen that he maneuvered his hand picked judges to block any investigation of the matter. How can one not criticize this lawlessness in the SC.
@Lala Gee: u rock!
There is a big difference between positive constructive criticism and concerted propaganda campaigns using concocted facts and twisted logic. Lahore High Court rightly advised PEMRA to stop such propaganda campaigns designed to disrepute and malign apex courts, which is also a requirement under the Constitution of Pakistan.
What else one can expect from PCO Judges?
So even our High Courts have no understanding of the importance of freedom of speech. The only thing anybody cares about in this country is self-preservation.
If anybody has said lies about a judge, why not charge them with slander or libel or whatever applies. No one should be stopped from expressing their opinion about anybody, or saying the truth.
shambles of a failed state!
The Parliament is not subservient to the Judiciary, they may be considered parallel arms of government, but this still gives representatives of people the right to discuss how one arm of government is preventing them from working.....by the same token, if there is a video of CJP taking bribes, the public at large has the right to see it, first requirement of judiciary is to be clean, if they are not, it should be brought before public.
Parliament is not subservient to the Judiciary, they may be considered parallel arms of government, but this still gives representatives of people the right to discuss how one arm of government is preventing them from working.....by the same token, if there is a video of CJP taking bribes, the public at large has the right to see it, first requirement of judiciary is to be clean, if they are not, it should be brought before public.
This is just the beginning first Stop TV on Judiciary , Then stop TV shows on Politicians Then stop TV shows on Fashion Then we wil have TV shows like we used to have 30 years ago one drama a at certain time & News at 9 as soon the Molvis will also have a say what to show & not to show
In a related news, Taliban have also warned media houses not to air anything against them. The two should have issued a joined statement together.
Our courts cosider themselve always right. They do not want any accountability and due critisim from any one.
What about TV shows maligning politicians? Any notice for it sir ???
good step!
Ah now the judiciary is attacking media freedom. LEt us se how the media which has never been barred from vocally and vociferously criticizing politicians feels about this.