‘Fabricated’ statement: SC takes notice of misreporting by Jang, The News

Justice Jawwad S Khawaja calls for a code of conduct for media.

ISLAMABAD:

Supreme Court Justice Jawwad S Khawaja took notice on Wednesday of a report carried by Jang and The News, misquoting him during Tuesday’s proceedings with regards to banners present on court premises during hearings on missing persons cases.

The judge made it clear that he had not said that the banners were hung at court premises when the cases were taken up. When a reporter requested permission to check audio recordings of Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Khawaja denied access to the recordings.

During Wednesday’s hearing of Geo TV’s petition, a two-judge bench commented that freedom of expression should not be misused and the court proposed the formulation of a code of conduct to avoid misreporting in print and electronic media. Justice Khawaja directed the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) to take up the matter of such a code with the federal government.

The judge observed that ‘some section of the media is trying to impede the work of the state’s institutions and are relating wrong statements’. President of the Khudayar Mohla Press Association of Supreme Court (PAS) told the bench that a draft of a code of conduct for court reporting will be finalised very soon.

Meanwhile, the AGP, submitting a report on behalf of the interior minister and Director General Intelligence Bureau regarding the presence of banners on court premises, said that one individual, Shafiq Butt, and two other associates, Muhammad Nazeer and Muhammad Waqar, have been arrested and are being questioned with regards to the matter. An FIR has also been registered in the case, the AGP said, requesting some time for the completion of an investigation.

On Tuesday, the court provided the AGP with the transcript of a television programme wherein Justice Khawaja was maligned in allegations that he holds a grudge against the judiciary; the AGP was asked to submit a reply to it. The AGP said PEMRA has issued a show cause notice to ARY TV network and proceedings have been initiated in this matter.

The hearing was adjourned until June 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2014.