The Supreme Court on Monday said reports on corruption continued to surface because of the media, and if there had been no media, corrupt elements would have sold out and devoured the country.
A two-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, took up the IB Secret Fund case for hearing.
Sardar Muhammad Ghazi appeared on behalf of Nazir Naji and sought time for filing a reply.
The CJP said, “Serious allegations stand against you. The case is running since long and you are not giving reply.”
Attorney General (AG) Munir A Malik said everybody knew the facts and no one could be misled, adding, “I had earlier said and still say noting wrong has been done. I assure you the sitting AG won’t allow any such thing. The news being broadcast by the media nowadays should be put into the dustbin. Contradicting these media reports is tantamount to according some status to them.”
The CJP said the courts came to know of a lot of matters because of the media.
Justice Jawwad S Khwaja said “these news items are not unauthentic even though we accept that certain reports published are wrong. However, through newspapers we have come to know that Shujaat Azim is being appointed”.
The AG replied that Asad Kharal had given an application and a statement and the IB’s reply was submitted with reference to Asad Kharal’s reply. “The reply is enclosed in a sealed envelope whereby the IB has rejected Kharal’s statement and has corrected it”.
Kharal said the period of four months, given for the audit of the IB’s secret funds had expired on November 8.
The court remarked, “We will see when the time comes.”
The court gave time to Nazir Najir to present his reply by November 25.
Later, further proceedings were adjourned until November 25.
