In a recent development before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, three out of six individuals purportedly involved in filing a joint petition concerning media freedom have disclaimed their association with the case. The revelation occurred during a hearing presided over by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa.
The petition, filed in 2022 and later attempted to be withdrawn, raised concerns about media regulation and sought a directive for the federal government to establish a specific code of conduct prohibiting defamation of institutions and public servants, among others, in line with constitutional provisions.
During the hearing, it was observed that discrepancies existed within the submitted documentation, notably regarding the signatures on the power of attorney (wakalatnama). The court noted that these signatures did not correspond with the individuals’ national identity card (CNIC) details. This prompted the bench to issue show-cause notices for contempt of court to one petitioner and ordered repetitions for two others who failed to appear in court.
Among those disclaiming involvement were individuals such as Raja Sher Bilal, senior vice chairman of the International Human Rights Movement, Prof Abrar Ahmed of Wings College Chakwal, and Advocate Mohammad Asif, former president of District Bar Chakwal, who contested their inclusion in the petition. Advocate Asif even clarified that he had never held the position of bar president.
The situation took a serious turn when the court directed attention to former Inspector General of Police Syed Ibn Hussain, former Joint Secretary Hassan Mehmood, and Advocate Kosain Faisal, ordering show-cause notices to be repeated in their cases as well.
Following the demise of the advocate on record, Ahmed Nawaz Chaudhry, another advocate, Syed Rafaqat Ali Shah, was engaged to represent the petitioners. However, confusion arose when Haider Waheed, purportedly on whose behalf the petition was filed, denied giving any instructions to either the late advocate or Rafaqat Ali.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa expressed concern over the seriousness of the matter, questioning the motives behind filing such petitions and emphasizing the need for transparency in legal proceedings. He highlighted that while the judicial system might have been susceptible to manipulation in the past, it is no longer the case.
The Chief Justice’s remarks also underscored the importance of investigating the origins of such petitions and identifying those behind them. Former Pemra chairman Absar Alam urged Haider Waheed to disclose whether he received any legal fees for filing the petition and expressed interest in engaging him for future legal matters if the filing was done pro bono.
In another related matter, Islamabad Inspector General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi admitted dissatisfaction with the investigation into the cases of journalists Matiullah Jan, Absar Alam, and Asad Ali Toor. He pledged to replace the investigator with a more competent officer to ensure a thorough examination of the issues at hand.
The proceedings shed light on the intricacies and potential abuses within the legal system, emphasizing the judiciary’s commitment to upholding transparency and accountability in legal proceedings.