Says “keeping in view the sanctity and grace of the Judges, media should refrain from publishing unverified and baseless stories”
The Supreme Court (SC) said in a press release on Thursday that news stories carried by electronic and print media regarding the Supreme Judicial Council were false and baseless.
A day earlier, some local news outlets had reported that the Supreme Judicial Council was proceeding against two judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on charges of misconduct and corruption.
“News stories carried by electronic and print media regarding the Supreme Judicial Council and its proceedings it is clarified that such news stories are concocted, stage managed, false and baseless,” the press release said.
Supreme Judicial Council is the apex constitutional body to hold enquiries into the allegations leveled against Judges and other constitutional posts holders, it added.
It further clarified that according to the constitution “Proceedings of the Council cannot to be reported. Proceedings of the Council shall be conducted in camera and shall not be open to public. Only the findings of the proceedings shall be allowed to be reported. Proceedings of the meetings of the Council or any other steps that the Council may take shall not be reported, unless directed otherwise”.
“Therefore, keeping in view the sanctity and grace of the Judges, it is required that media should refrain from publishing unverified and baseless stories,” the press release said.
Supreme Judicial Council has taken serious note of frivolous reports about the Council’s proceedings. The Supreme Judicial Council secretary warned the media not to publish or air news items about the Supreme Judicial Council without verification and confirmation from the Council secretariat. The Council has also warned journalists that if anyone published such baseless and false stories about the Council, stern action would be taken against him according to the rules.
Chairman PEMRA is being directed to restrain media from publishing unverified and baseless stories about the Supreme Judicial Council and its proceedings.
