Private channel owner fails to appear before court

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday deferred petition of the owner of the private TV channel ARY, Salman Iqbal till the second week of April against his warrant of arrest and call to attend the court in connection with criminal petition against levelling baseless allegations against the largest media house of the country, Jang-Geo Group.
Neither Salman Iqbal, his counsel nor any representative of the private TV channel appeared before the court when Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition filed by Salman Iqbal.
The court, on the previous hearing on Feb 2, had advised the counsel of both sides to consult their clients and inform the court whether they would have any objection or not over the appointment of an arbitration commission comprising of I A Rahman, Javed Jabbar and Ziauddin for the resolution of the conflict.
On behalf of Independent Media Corporation Amir Abdullah Abbasi Advocate told the court that Jang and Geo Group had no objection over the appointment of the arbitration commission by the court for the resolution of the conflict. However it would be better to settle terms of reference first. He said ARY is continuing with allegations without any proof. We have been stressing at each and every forum to submit before the court if there are any proofs, he maintained. He requested the court to issue orders to stop baseless charges over ARY channel against Jang Group.
Justice Athar Minallah in his remarks said the court has to ascertain the limits of the freedom of speech. It may be recalled that Independent Media Corporation has lodged a criminal petition in the IHC against six persons including the owner of private TV channel ARY Salman Iqbal and anchor Mubashir Lucman over hurting the reputation of the Jang Group through baseless allegations. Five accused have appeared before the court while Salman Iqbal had obtained stay order from the Supreme Court despite warrant of arrest. However on the hearing of his own application and call twice neither he himself nor his counsel appeared before the court.