KARACHI: 34 TV networks received a notice of contempt from the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) for broadcasting Senator Faisal Vawda and MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal’s “anti-judiciary press conferences.”
On Wednesday, the contempt of court case against Kamal and Vawda was heard by a three-member panel of the highest court of Pakistan, presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and consisting of Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Irfan Saadat Khan.
Earlier in May, both lawmakers had criticised the courts in force during news conferences. Vawda underscored the need for proof prior to making accusations, whereas Kamal sought to create moral guidelines for judicial officials, stating that justice could “only be bought.”
In addition to ordering the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to provide video recordings and Urdu transcripts of Vawda’s May 15 press conference and Kamal’s May 16 press conference, the supreme court on Friday issued show-cause notices to both leaders for their comments regarding the judiciary.
Kamal’s attorney, Barrister Farogh Naseem, asked the court to accept his client’s one-page, unqualified apologies during today’s hearing.
He clarified that Kamal had, in fact, made reference to ongoing instances involving Riba, or usury. Isa CJP questioned if the Federal Shariat Court received the cases. CJP Isa expressed shock at being exposed to derogatory language in relation to the decision to act suo motu over the statements, raising the question of whether such language was appropriate in any nation.
He underlined that the notification was about criticism of the judiciary, not criticism aimed at him personally. Vawda’s attorney Moiz Ahmed expressed his client’s wish to talk about Pemra, and CJP Isa upheld their right to do so as counsel.
Justice Saadat examined the background in response to Ahmed’s plan to read aloud the questions and answers from Vawda’s press conference, pointing out that Vawda specifically targeted Justices Babar Sattar and Athar Minallah.
CJP Isa questioned Pemra’s prohibition on reporting court proceedings and chastised media outlets for airing offensive language. He emphasised the value of journalistic honesty and denounced people who disseminate lies in order to obtain financial advantage.
34 TV networks were sent notifications by the court for airing disparaging remarks, and they were given two weeks to reply. The court also asked Pemra to respond to the prohibition on reporting court proceedings.
In addition, Kamal’s apology was denied by the SC in the contempt case.
Attorney representing Kamal, Justice Irfan Sadaat Khan, requested him to call a news conference to apologise for the prior presser against the judiciary.
The judge also granted Vawda’s attorney’s plea to reevaluate his response.
Vawda has been allowed a week to respond to the suo motu notice, and the matter has been postponed until June 28.
Vawda asked the supreme court to revoke the contempt of court order that had been given to him, despite having received one from the SC.
Senator Vawda responded in writing to the supreme court, arguing that while other politicians had made similar statements, they were not punished in the same way. These politicians included Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PTI leader Raoof Hassan, and JUI-F chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Declaring before the court that he “can never imagine doing any act which lowers the estimation of the judiciary in any manner,” he implored the court to respect and revere the judiciary. He begged the judge to revoke the show-cause order.
