The Islamabad High Court has issued notices to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), journalists Ghareeda Farooqui, Ammar Solangi and Hasan Ayub in a contempt of court case over a social media campaign against Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri.
A full court of Islamabad High Court heard the contempt proceedings, headed by Chief Justice Aamir Farooq. Other members of the bench were Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Saman Rifat Imtiaz. Justice Jahangiri was not part of the full court.
At the outset of the hearing, CJ Farooq addressed the additional attorney general, saying: "We will not tolerate this campaign. We have taken action before also, but no one learned any lesson. We will not spare anyone found involved in this. Enough is enough! No one is forbidding you from disagreement."
He further questioned the responsibility of PEMRA, PTA and FIA. "Can't you see this? Are you allowing this? You are the representatives of the government, which is why you have been called."
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Justice Aurangzeb remarked that a campaign against judges was launched, but the law minister, information minister, attorney general were all silent and the government did not take any action. "There is an impression that you guys are behind it," he added.
The additional attorney general replied that no direction was given by you. The CJ asked what direction will the court give, questioning if it was not the responsibility of the government. "This is an institutional response. The judges will respond to the council."
Later, the court issued notices to PEMRA, FIA DG, PTA, journalist Ghareeda Farooqui, Ammar Solangi and Hasan Ayub and adjourned the hearing of the case till after the summer vacation.
The court directed the FIA DG to determine those responsible, adding that it had been observed many times that a serious campaign was being conducted, which would not be ignored. "Everyone has the right, go to the Supreme Judicial Council a hundred times. We will not ignore this serious campaign against the judges," the chief justice remarked.
