Pakistan
No restriction on judicial reporting, CJ IHC
Chief Justice Amer remarked that the ban is not on reporting but on irresponsible reporting
Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq Wednesday remarked in the hearing on the appeal of journalistic organisations against the ban on court reporting that there is no ban on court reporting.
IHC Chief Justice Amer Farooq heard the requests of journalistic organisations against the ban on court reporting, in which the Additional Attorney General appeared in the court while Barrister Umar Ijaz Gilani gave arguments on behalf of the journalistic organisations.
During the hearing, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) submitted its response to the court.
Chief Justice Amer remarked that the ban is not on reporting but on irresponsible reporting. The media can report on court proceedings, only sensationalism is a problem.
The court inquired from the Additional Attorney General if the federal government is related to this matter. To which he replied that this matter is related to PEMRA. The federal government has nothing to do with it.
Meanwhile, Barrister Ejaz Gilani argued that there is no ban on reporting pending cases in the law that PEMRA has resorted to.
Later, the court adjourned the further hearing of the case till June 11, calling for final arguments at the next hearing.