Tendering an unconditional apology before the Supreme Court on Monday for disseminating 'news' about an alleged meeting of an apex court judge Justice Amir Hani Muslim with PML-N Senator Nehal Hashmi over the Panama Leaks case, the management of a private television channel (Din News) left them at the mercy of the court.
On November 20, taking a suo moto notice, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali issued contempt notices to reporters, anchorperson, producer, director news and management of Din TV. During the course of proceedings on Monday, a two-member bench of Justices Mian Saqib Nisar and Maqbool Baqir issued directives to the television management to amend their pleas in order to include words that the said news item was "false" and "fabricated".
Appearing on behalf of Din News shareholders Mehmood Sadiq and Uzma Mehmood Sadiq, Barrister Ali Zafar sought an unconditional, unqualified, genuine remorse, saying his clients left themselves at the clemency of the court. He said they are ashamed, adding that the management had suspended the entire news team after holding an inquiry.
Zafar further contended that a decade ago the Din News had evolved an SOP that no statement would be aired against Islam, judiciary and military forces, adding that normally the procedure of telecasting news is subject to approval of chief news editor, who after examining it forwards it to the news editor who later sends it to news producer and finally it goes to newscaster.
The counsel said that in the present case the procedure was bypassed and the said item was telecast only after news director's approval, saying PEMRA has already passed an order against his clients as it has suspended their licence for one month with a million of rupees fine.
Responding to a query of Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Barrister Ali Zafar said it was a gross negligence on the part of the TV channels. Terming respect for media a mutual reciprocity, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said that the institution (Supreme Court) should not be maligned as it is also one of the pillars of state.
"We are not sacred cows. Maligning the conduct of a judge is damaging for the institution," Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed. He said that such a margin be given to the judiciary as a whole and not only the superior courts. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that he was surprised when he watched the "news" on the television. He observed that the motive and objective of that "news" was to discredit and malign the judiciary.
Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that the court cannot issue press releases to respond to a variety of expressions of general public about the judiciary. The bench said that the "news" caused an irreparable damage to court. It remarked: "Don't malign judges, and these kinds of aspersions hurt us."
Representing Director News Iftikhar, Advocate Azhar Siddique said that the news item was false and fabricated and sought mercy of the court to which Justice Mian Saqib Nisar asked him to seek mercy from God. He said God had chosen them to do justice. Later, hearing of the matter was adjourned for a week.
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