JournalismPakistan.com
June 28, 2024
ISLAMABAD—The Supreme Court accepted the apologies of two lawmakers in a contempt of court case on Friday but issued show-cause notices to 34 media channels again, including 26 whose explanations were deemed "not justifiable."
In May, a three-member SC bench led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa issued contempt notices to Senator Faisal Vawda and MNA Mustafa Kamal of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan for making malicious allegations against the judiciary and its judges.
After accepting the lawmakers' apologies, the Chief Justice observed that the replies from 26 of the 34 channels were "not signed by any representatives of the TV channels and submitted under the signatures of their counsels." He stated that these replies could not be accepted.
Upon reviewing the replies, the Chief Justice noted that the TV channels argued the press conferences of the two lawmakers were aired live in the public interest under Article 19A of the Constitution. However, the counsel for these channels conceded that some content of one of the press conferences did constitute contempt.
Finding the explanations unsatisfactory, the Chief Justice proceeded to issue again show-cause notices to the TV channels involved.
July 06, 2024: Daily Dawn criticizes the Punjab government's request to shut down social media platforms during Muharram, highlighting concerns o...
July 05, 2024: Freedom Network responds to recent public controversy stemming from a Peshawar event. The statement addresses allegations of haras...
July 05, 2024: Javeria Siddique, wife of slain journalist Arshad Sharif, accuses the ruling elite of involvement in her husband's murder and dema...
July 03, 2024: Journalist Umar Cheema retracts his criticism of a Samaa TV talk show, alleging the episode where public speaker Sahil Adeem and p...
July 03, 2024: Daily Dawn criticizes the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for implementing a mass surveillance system, calling it Orwel...
July 03, 2024: The teenage children of slain journalist Khalil Jibran fear for their lives after an arson attack on their snooker club. They have...
July 03, 2024: PTI accuses ARY News of broadcasting false news regarding a UN Working Group's report on Imran Khan's arrest. PTI asserts the repo...
June 30, 2024: Journalist Noor-ul-Arfeen Siddiqi was violently attacked by at least two dozen masked assailants at his home in Malir, leaving him...
July 05, 2024 The Pulitzer Center is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 cohort of AI Accountability Fellows. These fellowships support journalists with funding, mentorship, and training to produce in-depth reporting on AI systems.
July 04, 2024 Journalist and government critic Aidos Sadykov succumbed to injuries on July 2 after a shooting in Kyiv. The IFJ, NUJU, and FEJK urge a thorough investigation by Kazakh and Ukrainian authorities.
July 04, 2024 Explore the progress and setbacks of press freedom in the Middle East. This article delves into the region's ongoing struggle for media independence, highlighting significant challenges and triumphs.
July 04, 2024 The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urges Turkish authorities not to contest the appeals of eight journalists sentenced to over six years in prison on terrorism charges and calls for an end to the baseless prosecution of journalists. Learn more about the convictions and the appeals process.
July 03, 2024 The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the UN Working Group's declaration that the imprisonment of Guatemalan journalist Jose Ruben Zamora is arbitrary and calls for his immediate release. CPJ highlights the unjust prosecution faced by Zamora for his investigative reporting on government corruption.