Case Update Status

On Jan 20, 2022 The Islamabad High Court (IHC) deferred the indictment of journalists

Summary of Case

"On 16 Nov, 2021 Islamabad High Court (IHC)’s Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued show-cause notices to Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Jang/Geo Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, The News Editor Aamir Ghauri and The News Editor Investigations Ansar Abbasi as well as former chief justice Gilgit Baltistan, Rana Shamim in-person and others, under the Contempt of Court Ordinance.

Rana Shamim, The News Editor, Aamir Ghauri, and Ansar Abbasi appeared before the court on Dec 19. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) decided to indict them on January 7, 2022 in a contempt of court case.

The proceedings are a reaction to an investigative report by Abbasi published on November 15 of a notarized affidavit by former Chief Justice of Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim that stated that he had witnessed former Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar direct a high court judge not to let former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif or PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz out on bail before the 2018 general elections “at any cost”.

According to The News, an IHC written order from the hearing on December 28 had stated that “the three journalists prima facie committed criminal contempt by reporting on the matter”.

The former GB chief judge and others have been summoned for indictment on January 7.

The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) said that the contempt charges are “worrying since the journalists merely reported an affidavit which exists and has been verified”.

The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) said the “order of the court would impact on the existing state of beleaguered freedom of press and would discourage journalists from reporting on matters of public interest”. The APNS said reporting the story “which was not denied” wouldn’t damage the respect of the court but “framing charges against the journalists would tantamount to suppressing the freedom of expression and denial of people’s right to know”.

“We entreat the honourable court to annul this decision,” said the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in a statement expressing disappointment at the IHC’s decision.

On Jan 7, 2021 The Islamabad High Court (IHC) deferred indictment of former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Mohammad Shamim, senior journalists Ansar Abbasi and Aamir Ghauri and Editor-in-Chief of Jang Group Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman till Jan 20 in the contempt of court case.

Nasir Zaidi, representing the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), pointed out that journalists in Pakistan were already working under certain pressures and uncongenial environment.

He expressed apprehension that any adverse order by a well-respected judge would pave way for others to curtail freedom of expression.

Justice Minallah assured that he would never pass any order that would ever restrict freedom of expression. Subsequently, the court adjourned further hearing in this matter till Jan 20.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Jan 20 indicted former Gilgit-Baltistan chief justice Rana Shamim in a contempt of court case but deferred the framing of charges against the media personnel also named in the case, including journalist Ansar Abbasi and Jang Group owner Mir Shakeelur Rehman."

Category of Incident

Petition against journlaist

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0202 -Acts against liberty

ICCS Group: 02022-Deprivation of liberty

ICCS Class: 020222-Illegal restraint

ICCS Crime: Acts against liberty

Reported By

Dawn

Date of incident

16

Month

November

Year

2021

Name of affected person

Ansar Abbasi

Other affected persons

Mir Shakilur Rehman & Amir Ghouri

Name of affected organization

The News

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Islamabad High Court (IHC)

City

Islamabad

Province

Capital Territory

Designation

Editor, Editor in Chief

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

"Ansar Abbasi: Age - 56 years Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman: Age - 65 years "

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: N/A

Court where case was presented: Islamabad High Court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A

Date of first court hearing: 29/12/2021

Date of last court hearing: 20/01/2022

Status of court case: On Jan 20, 2022 The Islamabad High Court (IHC) deferred the indictment of journalists.

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

"PFUJ & PBC: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) have expressed concern over court directives to indict journalists in a case related to the affidavit of former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim. In a joint statement issued on Monday, the PFUJ, PBC and HRCP said that journalists should not be punished for merely performing their professional duties. PFUJ, PBC and HRCP say journalists must not be punished for doing their duties CPNE: Condemned.APNS: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) said the “order of the court would impact on the existing state of beleaguered freedom of press and would discourage journalists from reporting on matters of public interest”. APNS: The APNS said reporting the story “which was not denied” wouldn’t damage the respect of the court but “framing charges against the journalists would tantamount to suppressing the freedom of expression and denial of people’s right to know”."

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: N/A

Press club 2:

Press club 3: