IHC says no ban on court reporting
Pakistan
Says sensational and irresponsible reporting is a concern
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq says there is no ban on court reporting, and the media can report on court proceedings.
These remarks came during the hearing of petitions filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and IHC Journalists Association against the ban on court proceedings reporting.
Petitioner’s counsel Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani and Islamabad Bar Association President Riasat Ali Azad appeared before the court.
Read more: SHC halts implementation of PEMRA's notification of ban on court reporting
During the hearing of the case, IHC CJ Aamer Farooq remarked that “there is no ban on court reporting, in fact, on irresponsible reporting.” He added that “the concern is running sensational tickers on court reporting.”
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) also submitted the response during the hearing.
The court inquired of the additional attorney general about the role of the federal government in this matter.
Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal replied that it’s PEMRA’s matter and there was no involvement of the federal government in this case.
Barrister Ijaz Gilani asserted that there was no prohibition on pending cases reporting under the law.
The court adjourned the hearing until June 11, seeking final arguments in the next hearing.
It is pertinent to note that PEMRA issued a notification prohibiting court reporting and running of tickers on court proceedings.
Later, media organisations and associations moved courts and challenged the notification on court reporting.
Also read: PEMRA's notification of court reporting ban challenged in LHC, IHC
