SC: No ban on Sharif’s anti- judiciary speeches

Pakistan’s Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday expressed annoyance over ‘ fake news’ that Lahore High Court ( LHC) had barred TV channels from airing ‘ alleged anti- judiciary speeches’ of Pakistan Muslim League ( Nawaz) leader Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. The SC resumed hearing of sou motu notice pertaining to LHC’s ban and termed the fake news as second ‘ attack on judiciary’.

Chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar — during the hearing - remarked that every newspaper had printed the aforementioned news. “Let us know where order of ban is written in the verdict”, CJP remarked adding, “Fake news was aired on all TV channels”.

He added: “Judiciary suffered an attack earlier while second attack was launched by airing fake news.”

The CJ remarked airing of fake news tantamount to denigrate judiciary and that news was quoted out

Let us know where order of ban is written in the verdict. Fake news was aired on all TV channels — Mian Saqib Nisar,

Chief justice of Pakistan

of the context. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority ( PEMRA) interim chairman also appeared in the court. CJP inquired PEMRA chairman about action taken against media outlets over airing fake news.

“There are several complains pending before PEMRA since 2017. What action PEMRA has taken against the complaints being the media- regulator,” inquired Justice Ijazul Ehsan.

Justice Azmat Saeed said can any outsider apprise PEMRA about their assigned duties. “The court issued a different verdict while channel aired another version of the verdict,” he added.