Media restrained from reporting SJC events

Council’s verification a must before publishing, airing stories

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has restrained the media from publishing and airing news items about the council’s proceedings without verification and confirmation from the SJC secretariat.

SJC is the apex constitutional body to hold inquiries into allegations levelled against judges and other holders of constitutional posts.



A news item was published on Wednesday that the council is initiating proceedings of misconduct against two judges of the Lahore High Court.

According to the Rule 13 of SJC, “Proceedings of the Council are not to be reported. (1) Proceedings of the Council shall be conducted in camera and shall not be open to public. (2) Only the findings of the proceedings shall be allowed to be reported. (3) Proceedings of the meetings of the Council or any other steps that Council may take shall not be reported, unless directed otherwise.”

According to the written statement, issued by the Supreme Court PRO Shahid Hussain Kamboyo, “keeping in view the sanctity of the judges of the superior courts, it is required that media should refrain from publishing/airing unverified and baseless stories.” The statement says SJC has taken serious note of reports about the council.



It further says that news carried by electronic and print media regarding the council and its proceedings, it is clarified that such news stories are concocted, stage managed, false and baseless.

The secretary SJC warned the media not to report news about the council without confirmation from the council secretariat. Moreover, SJC has also warned journalists of stern action if they report false stories about the council.

“The Pemra chairman was also directed to restrain the media from publishing or airing such unverified and baseless stories about the Supreme Judicial Council and its proceedings,” the statement read.



Meanwhile, the newly elected president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Ali Zafar expressing concern over the statement said that Rule 13 of SJC is violating Article 19-A of the Constitution, therefore, it should be reviewed immediately.

Article 19-A of the Constitution says that every citizen shall have the right to have access to information in all matters of public importance subject to regulation and reasonable restrictions imposed by law.

Former additional attorney general Tariq Mahmood Khokhar also endorsed the stance of the SCBA chief and said that it is essential that the proceedings of SJC should be opened for public for providing fair trial opportunity to the accused.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2015.