In Islamabad, the Supreme Court has instructed the immediate withdrawal of notices issued to journalists who criticized the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The case, addressing automatic notices against journalist harassment by the FIA, was heard by a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa.
The Chief Justice directed the Attorney General, emphasizing that while blasphemy is a distinct matter, the FIA should refrain from taking action solely based on criticism. During the discussion with the Attorney General, the Chief Justice underscored his strong opposition to stifling criticism, stating that freedom of the press is enshrined in the constitution. He expressed indifference to personal criticism but emphasized the potential harm to the country if the judiciary is targeted. The Chief Justice asserted that while criticizing the Supreme Court is acceptable, it should be within the bounds set by the Constitution.
He further commented that attempting to curtail criticism under the guise of benefiting the Supreme Court would, in fact, be detrimental. The Chief Justice clarified that the issue of dissemination is separate, and neither journalists nor the general public can be prevented from criticizing the Supreme Court. He assured that no cases would be filed against individuals for criticizing the court.
Justice Musrat Hilali added that social media has inflicted significant damage on institutions, noting the discrepancy between what is portrayed on thumbnails and the actual content, describing it as a peculiar situation.
