Media warned of 'contempt' for rebroadcasting, publishing Vawda, Kamal pressers
Pakistan
The apex court issued a three-page order in a contempt case against Senator Vawda and MNA Kamal
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Supreme Court on Saturday warned media outlets, including news channels, of contempt proceedings for broadcasting, rebroadcasting or publishing the “contemptuous” press conferences of lawmakers Faisal Vawda and Mustafa Kamal.
The apex court issued a three-page order in a contempt case against Senator Vawda and MNA Kamal for their recent pressers against judges.
The court warned “all those who broadcast, rebroadcast or publish material constituting contempt may also be committing contempt of court. Media outlets should desist from doing so, failing which they may also be proceeded against, for contempt of court.”
A three-judge SC bench, headed by Chief Justice (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, had on Friday issued a show-cause notice to the two parliamentarians under Article 204, read with Contempt of the Court Ordinance, 2003. The court noted that apparently several malicious allegations against the judiciary and judges were levelled and even the alleged contemnors spoke about matters which were subjudice.
The SC order stated Senator Vawda held a press conference on May 15 at the National Press Club, which was broadcast live on a number of TV channels. It was also streamed on the internet and social media forums and extracts from his talk were published in different newspapers.
A day later, MNA Kamal addressed the media in the same tone as Vawda and a number of TV channels broadcast it live.
The SC order said that Article 19 of the Constitution grants every citizen the right to freedom of speech and expression, but places restrictions, amongst others, with regard to contempt of court.
The Article 204 defines contempt of court and empowers the apex court to punish any person who: ‘(a) abuses, interferes with or obstructs the process of the court in any way or disobeys any order of the court; (b) scandalises the court or otherwise does anything which tends to bring the court or a judge of the court into hatred, ridicule or contempt; (c) does anything which tends to prejudice the determination of a matter pending before the court; or (d) does any other thing which, by law, constitutes contempt of the court’.
Also, contempt of court is further attended to by the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003.
“Prima facie what was said by Senator Vawda appeared to be contempt of court, therefore, we are constrained to issue show-cause notice to Senator Vawda and [MNA] Kamal, but granted an opportunity to [them to] submit explanation/reply within two weeks of the receipt of the show-cause notice.”
Both were directed to be in attendance before the SC at the next hearing.
The bench directed the court office to send the notices to Senator Vawda and MNA Kamal at their residential addresses and at the Senate and the National Assembly secretariats.
Besides, a notice was also issued to the Attorney General for Pakistan, under Rule 7(2) of Order XXVII of the Supreme Court Rules, 1980.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) was directed to submit recording of both pressers together with their complete transcripts, including that of the question and answer session.
Also read: Supreme Court issues show-cause notices to Vawda, Kamal over remarks against judiciary
The Supreme Court on Friday issued show-cause notices to Senator Faisal Vawda and MQM-Pakistan lawmaker Mustafa Kamal over their recent blistering criticism of high court judges.
