Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday ordered a judicial probe into the alleged manhandling of journalists by Islamabad police on the World Press Freedom Day, which was observed on Thursday last. He directed the Islamabad's Sessions Judge Sohail Nasir to submit a report of the incident within 10 days.
A group of journalists had marched towards Islamabad's D-Chowk to protest against the restrictions placed on the media but they were stopped and allegedly manhandled by police personnel deployed in the area. When reports of the incident appeared on media, the CJP took suo moto notice of the case. The CJP noted that the authorities had no right to abuse their power, adding that journalists' demonstration did not threaten the law and order of the federal capital.
Appearing on notice, Inspector General Islamabad Police Dr Sultan Azam Temuri stated the journalists were stopped from trying to enter the Red Zone. He said demonstrations of any kind were prohibited under the Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal code. "You are cheating the law by imposing Section 144, despite there is no security threat," the CJP asked Temuri.
The Chief Justice questioned whether journalists had any stones or were breaking something, adding if it was justified to manhandle the peaceful demonstrators. He said Section 144 was a 'colonial law'.
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