Ruling on coverage of rape cases welcomed

LHC bars media from disclosing names of rape victims and their families.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court’s ruling last week on media coverage of rape cases has been praised by the legal fraternity as a positive step towards protection of victims and their families.

Several media outlets had been widely criticised recently for their coverage of a child rape case. Several media houses, both electronic and print, had the identified the victim.

Last week, the LHC barred media from disclosing names of rape victims and their families. All TV channels were directed to comply with the order.

The court also issued notices to TV channels and newspapers and directed the PEMRA to provide a list of channels to the registrar’s office.

Notices were also issued to the federal government, the Ministry of Information and the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS).

The court issued the order on a petition moved in public interest by Faham, an NGO.

Advocate Tipu Salmaan Makhdoom said the media, should itself deal violation of its code of ethics. He said the courts should not have to intervene in such cases.

Sports

Last week, the Lahore High Court heard three cases involving national sports organisation.

On October 24, a writ petition requested the LHC to halt the election of Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman till the electoral college was complete.

Lahore Region Cricket Association’s Ad-hoc President Izzat Saiyed had filed the petition. He said the election of the PCB chairman was scheduled for November 2 but the electoral college itself remained incomplete. He said presidents of district and regional cricket associations elected the board’s chairman but 30 per cent of a total 111 associations were working without presidents.

On October 24, another bench of the LHC issued notices to Pakistan Hockey Federation and the Sports Board on a petition filed by former Olympian Naveed Alam who said massive rigging had been planned in the election for the PHF as contenders and members of the election commission were holding senior posts in the federation.

On October 21, a petition challenging the constitution of an ad hoc committee by prime minister to run the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) affairs was filed. Aftab Masood filed the petition, saying the prime minister, now also the patron-in-chief of the PCB, was not authorised to constitute an interim management committee.

Local government polls 

On October 21, an LHC bench directed the delimitation officers to complete their tasks without any fear of political pressure. The LHC had received several complaints suggesting the ruling party was trying influence the delimitation process.

Terrorism

On October 21, the LHC adjourned the hearing of a bail petition filed by Malik Ishaq, a leader of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat (formerly known as Lashkar-i-Jhangvi) till October 23.

Last week, a division bench of the LHC also recused itself from hearing the application of the government against bail granted to Zubair alias Nek Muhammad, the alleged mastermind of the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team. The judges cited personal reasons for not hearing the case.

On October 22, the LHC chief justice refused to issue directions to the federal government to start a dialogue with the Taliban and allow them to open a public office in the country.

The chief justice said starting a dialogue with the Taliban was a policy matter.

The chief justice said the Supreme Court had already ruled that courts could not interfere in policy issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2013.