Criticism of armed forces: SC seeks transcripts of TV shows

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday sought Urdu transcripts of TV programmes that had maligned the armed forces and secret agencies after Abbottabad incident and the attack on Mehran Air Base, Karachi in 2011.

A two-judge bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard a petition, challenging media’s role in relation to criticism on armed forces and intelligence agencies.

Muhammad Ibrahim Sathi, the counsel for the petitioner, informed the bench that there were some restrictions on media relating to judiciary and armed forces of Pakistan, adding that now it was general impression there was no control over the freedom of media.

He further contended that after the Abbottabad operation and attack on the Mehran Air Base, media criticized the intelligence agencies without any proof. He pleaded that an anchor of a private TV channel (not Aaj news) on May 2, 2011 stated that American helicopters flew from Tarbela Ghazi while the matter was in the notice of high command.

Chief Justice Chaudhry observed that raising question over the performance of intelligence agencies did not mean maligning them. During the course of hearing, the counsel for the petitioner also provided proof of some programmes broadcast by some nine TV channels and clipping of newspapers articles, criticising intelligence agencies.

The bench issued directives to the counsel for the petitioner to provide Urdu transcripts of such TV programmes by Nov 6 before it adjourned the hearing. A senior advocate of Supreme Court Sardar Muhammad Ghazi had filed the petition urging the apex court to restrain the media from criticizing the armed forces, intelligence agencies and other defence and security related institutions without any basis or verification and confirmation.