Supreme Court ordered immediate withdrawal of notices issued by FIA to journalists.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz held a hearing on the Spontaneous Notice related to the harassment of journalists in the Supreme Court, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musrat Hilali were also part of the bench.
Press Association of Supreme Court (PAS) and Islamabad after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sent notices to journalists and YouTubers over the alleged campaign against Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa. The High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA) took notice of the alleged harassment of journalists after passing a joint resolution and meeting the newly elected representatives of both organizations in the chamber.
Officials of the Attorney General, Press Association of the Supreme Court are present on the rostrum.
When the hearing started, the Chief Justice inquired how many cases there are? On which the Attorney General said that these are four applications.
The Chief Justice said that there are representatives of Pakistan Bar of Journalist Defense Committee.
The Attorney General said that the Journalist Defense Committee is now over.
The Chief Justice told the Attorney General that he will look into your application later.
The Chief Justice said, “Look at the system of nature, we took automatic notice in court number two, but the matter went to the 5-member bench for the authority of automatic notice. The 5-member bench decided to take automatic notice of 184 three.” The authority lies only with the Chief Justice.
The Chief Justice said that not only journalists but also judges have freedom of expression. Instead of handling the case, the Supreme Court kept it in cold storage from 2021. Tell me what was your request then and what is now.
The Chief Justice said that I am saying again and again how long will we repeat the mistakes of the past, we are ready to admit the mistakes, here we see only an opportunity.
He further said that I should take all the mistakes on my head? I will not raise it at all, if I have made a mistake, then point the finger at me, if you do not raise the finger, I will not be corrected, if you criticize, then I will be corrected.
After that, the Chief Justice ordered that the notices issued by the FIA to the journalists regarding the criticism of the Supreme Court should be withdrawn.
The Chief Justice while talking to the Attorney General gave important remarks and said that the country will be harmed if you make fun of the judiciary. I am strongly against stopping criticism. Freedom of press is in the constitution. .
The Chief Justice said that journalists and ordinary citizens can also criticize the decisions, illegal criticism of the decisions is also allowed.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that YouTube has no code of conduct, for TV there is PEMRA’s code of conduct, court decisions are public property, use of language should be careful.
The Chief Justice said that Arshad Sharif’s case can be put on the next hearing, at this time he does not want to give any orders that conflict with the ongoing orders in Arshad Sharif’s case.
The Chief Justice said that if the government is doing any good by stopping the criticism, then I am strongly against it, the government is harming me by taking action against the journalists. Saying wrong is not contempt of court, if a journalist incites violence, it is a different matter.
The Chief Justice ordered that the cases registered on the basis of criticism be immediately withdrawn.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that what happens in the thumbnail of YouTube does not happen in the video.
The Chief Justice said that along with hate speeches, some other things also happen only in Pakistan, why does the government not do anything against extremist thinking? Why aren’t those who prevent women from voting and polio shots caught? Why did not catch the fatwa to prevent women from voting?
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that if the media wants to make a code of conduct, then tell me whose help is needed?
The Chief Justice asked whether the Press Association denies any false news.
The Chief Justice said that if a defamation case happens, there will be no decision for fifty years.