Pakistan
SC orders immediate withdrawal of notices against journalists
The court adjourned the hearing of the automatic notice related to harassment of journalists till tomorrow (January 30).
Islamabad: Supreme Court (SC) has issued an order to immediately withdraw the notices sent by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to journalists for criticizing the judges.
According to the details, the Spontaneous Notice regarding harassment of journalists was led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faiz Isa.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice of Pakistan asked how many cases there are? On which the Attorney General said that these are four applications in which Qayyum Siddiqui and Asad are the applicants.
Qazi Faez stated that Qayyum tell me whether the case should be run by myself or will President Press Association give arguments? Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui replied: “I want to present some facts.”
CJP remarked that we took Suo moto notice in court number two but the matter went to a five-member bench for Suo moto notice. The bench decided that only the Chief Justice has the authority to take automatic notice of 184, not only journalists but also judges have freedom of expression.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan said that Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui had said that he did not want to pursue this case, on which Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui respond that when the matter went to the bench of Justice Ijaz ul Hassan, he had said that he did not want to pursue the case.
Justice Qazi Faiz Isa said that the complaint of journalists was not looked into, the Supreme Court kept the case in cold storage from 2021 instead of handling it, Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui tell me what was your request then and what is it now?
The Chief Justice of Pakistan said that either the government says that Article 19 should not be implemented or the judiciary should keep the fundamental rights alive or consider it as just written on paper. "I will talk about my organization first, how long will you repeat the mistakes of the past? If you criticize me, I will know my mistake."
Journalist Qayyum Siddiqui said that I leave my case to Allah, like the problem here, I wanted to go to former Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed but was not allowed. The Chief Justice scolded him and said that he should not criticize the former Chief Justice but criticize the current one.
Justice Qazi Faiz Isa asked the Attorney General why these complaints are not scheduled for hearing, living nations in the world learn from past mistakes and we say just go ahead and get soil.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that FIA had also given a report that no action was being taken against any journalist, FIA had not given any response to the previous actions.
The Chief Justice said, ask Asad whether the people who killed him have been caught. Asad, can you recognize the faces of these people?
Asad Toor said that those who tortured were not caught, I can recognize them even today, on which the Chief Justice asked if sketches of the torturers were made? Asad said that the sketch was made but the geo-fencing was not done.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan asked whether Asad's case has been put in cold storage or is it still going on? Attorney General Asad to give a comprehensive and detailed report on the case.
Asad Toor said: "I do not want to follow the automatic notice", on which the Chief Justice said you should not but we will look into the case ourselves.
The Supreme Court asked the Attorney General for the details of the cases against journalists and asked them to tell what other cases there are besides Matiullah Jan, Asad Toor, Aamir Mir, Shafqat Imran. Journalists who filed First Initial Reports (FIR) should also be given all the records, details should be taken from officers like Directorate General Federal Investigation Agency and Inspector General police.
The court adjourned the hearing of the automatic notice related to harassment of journalists till tomorrow (January 30) and directed the federal government to provide a report against violence against journalists within two weeks.