{"id":8678,"date":"2020-03-15T14:18:22","date_gmt":"2020-03-15T09:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pakistanpressfoundation.org\/?p=98367"},"modified":"2020-03-15T14:18:22","modified_gmt":"2020-03-15T09:18:22","slug":"pakistan-court-free-speech-under-threat-in-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanfoemonitor.org\/pakistan-court-free-speech-under-threat-in-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan court: Free speech under threat in country"},"content":{"rendered":" $\"Pakistan$

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has made it clear that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan and, the courts being custodians of the constitution, would not allow curbs on freedom of expression in forms of banning any media house or TV channel.<\/p>\n

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah\u2019s remarks came in the wake of the recent arrest of the owner and CEO of Pakistan\u2019s biggest media group \u2013 which includes Jang, Geo TV & The News \u2013 Mir Shakilur Rahman by the country\u2019s anti-graft watchdog, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).<\/p>\n

The IHC was hearing a case of media ethics and regulations when Geo TV\u2019s senior anchorperson Hamid Mir drew the court\u2019s attention to the arrest of the media group\u2019s owner on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Despite the fact Rahman appeared before the NAB and replied to all their queries and extended full cooperation with the investigating officers, he was taken into custody by NAB, said Mir, alleging it was also against the guidelines the IHC had recently issued regarding the arrest of the accused persons.<\/p>\n

Rahman\u2019s only crime was the he didn\u2019t bar his TV channel or newspapers from criticising the NAB and the government, he further said. \u201cWhy should one be afraid of criticism?\u201d asked the chief justice.<\/p>\n

Mir informed the court that the government had also issued a notification to regulate social media; however, the federal ministers are unaware of these regulations, and they have openly admitted that it was issued without due deliberation of the federal cabinet.<\/p>\n

Barrister Jahangir Jadoon, who has challenged the social media regulations, informed the court that their application was in process in the same court that directed the government to respond. He said the media watchdog, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), had ordered cable operators to change the Geo New positions. He prayed the court to take action over these moves against freedom of media. The chief justice said the court doesn\u2019t have suo motu powers.<\/p>\n

The IHC Chief Justice, however, expressed concerns that Pakistan was at the bottom of the Rule of Law index likewise the country was at 143rd position in the freedom of expression\u2019s list.<\/p>\n

He termed it alarming and said that the government should have realized this grave situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe constitutional courts of Pakistan will not allow laws that guarantee the rights of the people, including freedom of expression, to be violated,\u201d Justice Athar Minallah said.<\/p>\n

On Rahman\u2019s arrest, however, Justice Minallah said the court had interpreted the law and it was up to the authorities concerned to implement it in letter and spirit.<\/p>\n

Editors\u2019 representative body Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) can file a separate petition against the arrest, said the Chief Justice.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Gulf News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"