Islamabad: The Chief Justice of Pakistan has remarked during the hearing of the case that the more lies he tells, the more he will sell on social media.
A 3-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faiz Isa heard the petition against FIA notices to journalists.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice inquired whether there is any petitioner of the petition with lawyer Haider Waheed in the court. On this occasion, the Chief Justice called the Attorney General to the rostrum and asked if such a request is not a misuse of the court. , to which he replied that it was absolutely an abuse of process.
The Chief Justice remarked that whether such requests ensure the independence of the judiciary or reduce it? Why not call all petitioners on notice of this petition? On which the Attorney General supported giving notice to the petitioners.
Barrister Salahuddin told the court that there is nothing urgent in the case, Chief Justice asked where is Haider Waheed? On which the court was told that they want to withdraw their application related to media regulation.
The Chief Justice said that he did not even come to attend the court. Would their petition ensure or further restrict freedom of expression? Who were the petitioners in their case? On what basis was this application filed from 2022, have these objectives been fulfilled? Some of the applicants were from Chakwal and some from Islamabad. What was the common interest that brought these petitioners together? There is great selective reporting in the media.
The Chief Justice remarked that now this report will not be made. These 6 petitioners have disappeared. That’s why we said we will run our YouTube channel. Barrister Salahuddin opined that PIL cannot be withdrawn. The request of Riaz Hanif Rahi regarding the extension of the Army Chief was also not allowed to be withdrawn.
The Chief Justice said that you did not have an out-of-court settlement with these people, to which Barrister Salahuddin replied that we are a journalistic body, not the means of such a settlement. The Chief Justice remarked that it is not necessary to have money, it may also be said to give good publicity to my news in the future.
The Chief Justice inquired whether there is any other urgent matter. Barrister Salahuddin referred to the Matiullah John case, on which the Chief Justice said, “Attorney General, if I call a case open and shut, it is the Matiullah John case.” You have video of the incident.
The Chief Justice remarked that why the government does not advertise in the newspaper, they are looking for these people. If you do nothing, you will get an order that you will not like. Did they record the interview? What kind of journalism is this? . The next day there was a false news about my wife. It was said that my wife was sitting with me in the full court meeting. Shall we sit and issue explanations all day? .
The Chief Justice further said that it will be said that the Chief Justice’s wife did not issue a denial. What will be the impression of the news that the Chief Justice’s wife was sitting in the official meeting? Should you issue a notice of contempt of court to those who run such news? . Should they be charged and sent to jail? This is what he said in his thumbnail and in his news.
The Chief Justice asked whether money is being earned from more retweets and likes. . Will they terminate the membership of a journalist if he is found to be lying? , to which Barrister Salahuddin replied that he can terminate the membership by giving a warning and showing. The Chief Justice said that what will happen with this? Chief Justice, you are an officer of court, tell me the solution. Barrister Salahuddin said that the law of defamation is not strong enough in Pakistan that’s why it happens all the time.
The Chief Justice said that did the journalists take action against their members? . All these have become trade unions. We showed you how to do it in our institution, you should do it too, right?
The Chief Justice said in his remarks that the more he lies, the more he will sell on social media. Dollars are earned by making fake comments. Should we send those who spread lies to jail? Is such news self-generated to earn money? If a journalist is proven to be false in his news, what action is taken against him?
Barrister Salahuddin replied that the law of defamation in the UK is very strong. Pakistani channels cannot continue broadcasting in UK due to heavy fines.
The Chief Justice said that now if we issue a notice to anyone, then all of them will stand before us. Societies thrive where institutions have internal accountability. We showed our accountability.
Later, the Chief Justice started writing the order for today’s hearing. According to the court order, there was a request to withdraw the petition related to media regulation. Neither the petitioner nor the advocate on record came to the court. It was said in the application that now the federal government is looking into the issue of media regulation itself. The Attorney General denied this attribution to the government.
The Supreme Court summoned the petitioners of the media regulation petition in their personal capacity and also sought written arguments from the parties and issued a notice to the petitioners and adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period. The court said that the case will be rescheduled upon the availability of the previous bench.
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