CJP says authority to render final decision rested with SC

ISLAMABAD

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Chaudhry observed Tuesday no one should remain under any delusion as authority to render final decision rested with the apex court.

He made this observation while presiding over a 3-member bench of Supreme Court (SC) during the course of hearing of petition on media role after the Abbottabad operation.

The petition stated that following the incident of May 2, 2011, the media played a role in discrediting the country’s judiciary and its army.

The petitioner is seeking ban on media for criticizing the armed forces, intelligence agencies and other defence and security institutions.

Raja Irshad counsel for petitioner argued media had pitted Army Chief and the Chief Justice against each other.

Raja Irshad alleged that the media has brought the chief justice and army chief face to face.

The Chief Justice said that the Supreme Court has the final authority in decision making and called for the President Asif Ali Zardari’s article published in a US newspaper after the Abbottabad operation.

Raja Irshad read the president’s article before the bench that was published in a US newspaper.

Later, the court instructed the petitioner to gather all the statements of former Pakistan ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani and InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) and adjourned the hearing till November 22.