SC issues contempt notices to channel staff

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Saturday issued contempt notices to reporters, anchor person, producer, director news and management of Din TV news channel for airing a news item about the alleged meeting between Judge Justice Amir Hani Muslim and PML-N Senator Nehal Hashmi regarding PanamaLeaks case, pending before the court.

Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali directed its office to issue contempt notices to the management and staff of the news channel and any other person(s) behind this mischief immediately for their reply/concise statements and appearance before the court on November 28, 2016 in Islamabad.

The office of the country’s top court clarified that the news item is totally false, baseless, concocted, stage managed and figment of the mind of the reporter.

It said such misleading stories based on character assassination campaigns and casting aspersion on character and conduct of any dignitary through media trial are condemnable that sensationalise a non-issue.  The chief justice took strong notice of the issue on the note of registrar that was based on transcript and CD of news package aired by the channel on November 18, 2016.

It was stated that the news channel has maliciously tried to malign the judge and brought on media something which has never happened. This amounts to a dirty attempt to tarnish the image of this august court which is extremely damaging for the judiciary as a whole, a press release issued by the office of the court said.

The press release further stated that this is a clear case of contempt within the meaning of Article 204(2)(b) of the Constitution, read with Section 3, 4 and 17 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003. 

Further, it said, it is a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation of this august court, as the news package has been uploaded on the social media which has elicited unwarranted comments from the public. 

The statement said the airing of such news on TV channel about a sub judice matter is nothing but to malign the institution of judiciary and to bring the court and judges into hatred, ridicule or contempt. 

It further tends to prejudice the determination of a high profile case. Therefore, it said, the said news channel has tried to obstruct the judicial proceedings being conducted by larger bench of the august court.