ISLAMABAD: Mansoor Usman Awan, the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP), gave the Supreme Court an assurance on Tuesday that until the February 8 general elections, no action would be taken against journalists who had received notifications for allegedly participating in a smear campaign against judges.
The development occurred during the suo motu case hearing, which was combined with an earlier 2021 case about media harassment.
The case was heard by a three-judge panel that included Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Mussarat Hilali, and Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) election symbol, the caretaker government established a five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on January 17 to investigate the facts surrounding a vicious social media campaign against the judges of the court.
The JIT, which was established by the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act of 2016, is made up of police, FIA, and intelligence agency representatives.
The names of 47 journalists and YouTubers were included in the FIA’s “JIT-SM campaign against CJP and State Institutions” list, which quickly gained popularity on social media.
A day earlier, the chief justice ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) not to pursue legal action against any journalists or members of the public who express criticism of the Supreme Court, saying the court cannot prevent criticism from being spoken.
During today’s session, the AGP informed the Supreme Court that more notices will be sent out following the elections.
The court was addressed by AGP Awan and representatives of the Supreme Court Press Association.
CJP Isa asked if there was a petition submitted today at the beginning of the session. The president of the press association responded that as the FIA had not supplied a list, the request could not be submitted.
Because of this, CJP Isa stated, the highest court did not issue an order, and he anticipated a petition to be filed. “The court cannot issue any order until the matter is heard in the judges’ committee,” he stated.
He later inquired about the whereabouts of the notification for the joint investigative team. “If the court takes a suo motu notice like this then the journalists would object,” he stated.
The notice recipients were informed by Justice Mazhar that they had a deadline to turn in their responses.
Judge Mazhar asked, “Has anyone appeared before the FIA?”
When this happened, AGP Awan stated, “The JIT was stopped until today.”
The court was informed by journalist Matiullah Jan that measures were being made to exert control over the media. Then he begged that the institutions call them in relation to the notices following the polls on February 8.
“The federal government should be asked to create a social media code of conduct in collaboration with stakeholders,” said an attorney.
CJP Isa questioned the court’s authority to make such an order.
“Digital media is not governed by any laws. The law solely applies to criminal cases,” Justice Mazhar retorted.
According to the chief justice, the court can simply ask that all parties involved have a meeting.
At this point, the PA president declared that the notices had not been withdrawn in spite of the court’s observation.
“We do not care about criticism because we follow the Constitution and laws,” said the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
