Satisfied with replies: SC discharges contempt notices against Jang Group

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday discharged contempt notices against the Jang Group after expressing satisfaction over the replies submitted by the respondents.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and comprising Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah discharged the contempt notices.

The court, after going through the reply of Noorani in detail during the proceeding, expressed satisfaction and discharged the show cause notices against Jang Group. “After perusal of said replies, we are not persuaded to proceed further in the instant matter and the notices dated July 10, 2017 and January 24, 2018 are hereby discharged”, the court concluded.

In his reply, Noorani prayed the apex court that he and his senior management genuinely hold this honorable Supreme Court in the highest esteem and he hopes that through the submission in his reply, he will be able to persuade honorable court that the news story in question met the highest standards of journalistic norms and he thus most humbly prays that the show cause notice dated January 24, 2018 may graciously be withdrawn in the interest of justice.

The court had issued show cause notice to the Jang Group. Last year on July 10, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsen, while hearing the Panama Papers case on July 10, had issued contempt of court notices to the Jang Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Publisher/Printer Mir Javed Rahman for misrepresenting its order in Daily Jang on June 20, 2017 relating to an application filed by Hussain Nawaz seeking two reliefs, including stopping the JIT from video recording of the proceedings relating to examination and interrogation of the witnesses and constitution of a commission to inquire into the circumstances leading to the leakage of his footage, which the court had deferred until a reply from attorney general viz-a-viz the inquiry report as to the leakage of image was received. The court had also issued a contempt notice to Noorani, Reporter The News for contacting Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan on landline to inquire about the involvement of ISI in looking after the affairs of JIT.

The court had directed Mir-Shakil-ur-Rahman, Mir Javed Rahman and Noorani to submit their replies and asked them to appear before it in-person.

In pursuance of the court’s direction, Mir-Shakil-ur-Rahman, Mir Javed Rahman and Noorani had submitted their replies and contended that the Jang Group has not committed contempt and it’s beyond its imagination to think of subscribing to any sort of notion which has the potential to be detrimental to the administration of justice, respect of judges or has a remote possibility of being contemptuous. It was further submitted that the Jang Group was determined to maintaining efforts for upholding the independence and dignity of the judiciary and supremacy of the Constitution and law and cannot even think of ridiculing the judges.

On Wednesday, from Amed and Qazi law firm, a panel of counsels for Jang Group -- Jam Asif for Ahmed Noorani, Behzad Haider for Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Editor-in-Chief Jang Group and Saim Hashmi, counsel for Mir Javed Rahman, Publisher/Printer Jang Group -- appeared before the court. Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, Editor-in-Chief Jang Group, and Noorani, reporter The News, were also present in the court.

Jam Asif, counsel for Ahmed Noorani, reporter The News, submitted reply in a sealed envelope before the court. The bench went through the whole reply and Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, a member of the bench, asked Noorani about any progress made in his FIR he had lodged in the wake of the attack on him.

Noorani, however, told the court that no development has been made so far adding that the police said they are unable to find out the unknown persons involved in the attack. Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa observed that the purpose of issuing a show cause notice is not meant for any bad intention but to ensure respect and dignity of court.

Justice Dost Muhammad Khan observed that the dignity and majesty of the court must be maintained. Jam Asif, counsel for Noorani, submitted that they have great respect and honor for this court adding that they are at the mercy of the apex court.

Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa said that the respondent had contacted first the Registrar of this court and later talked to honorable judge of the apex court and talked for confirmation of the story. Later, the court discharged the show cause notices against the Jang Group and disposed of the case.