The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) issued contempt notices to 34 TV channels for broadcasting ‘anti-judiciary press conferences’ by Senator Faisal Vawda and MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal.
A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, heard the contempt case against Kamal and Vawda on Wednesday.
In May, both politicians held press conferences sharply criticizing the judiciary. Vawda highlighted the need for evidence before making accusations, while Kamal stressed the need for ethical standards among judges, claiming that justice could “only be bought.”
The apex court issued show-cause notices to the two leaders on Friday for their remarks and directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to provide video recordings and Urdu transcripts of Vawda’s May 15 press conference and Kamal’s May 16 press conference.
During the hearing, Barrister Farogh Naseem, representing Kamal, requested the court to accept his client’s one-page unconditional apology, clarifying that Kamal had been referring to pending Riba (usury) cases. CJP Isa inquired whether these cases were filed before the Federal Shariat Court. CJP Isa expressed his dismay at the abusive language used in the speeches, clarifying that the notice was about criticism against the judiciary, not him personally.
Moiz Ahmed, Vawda’s lawyer, expressed his client’s wish to discuss Pemra, and CJP Isa affirmed their right to speak. Justice Saadat scrutinized the context of Vawda’s press conference, noting his explicit targeting of Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Athar Minallah.
CJP Isa criticized media channels for airing obscene language and questioned Pemra’s ban on reporting court proceedings. He stressed the importance of journalistic integrity and condemned those spreading falsehoods for monetary gain.
The court issued notices to 34 TV channels for broadcasting derogatory speeches, instructing them to respond within two weeks. Additionally, the court requested Pemra’s response regarding the ban on reporting court proceedings.
The SC rejected Kamal’s apology in the contempt case. Justice Irfan Saadat Khan urged Kamal’s counsel to hold a press conference expressing remorse for the previous remarks against the judiciary. The bench also accepted Vawda’s counsel’s request to reconsider his reply.
The case has been adjourned until June 28, with Vawda given one week to submit his response to the suo motu notice.
Despite the contempt notice, Vawda requested the apex court to withdraw it. In his written reply, Vawda noted that other politicians, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PTI leader Raoof Hassan, and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, had made similar remarks but were not similarly penalized. He expressed his respect for the judiciary and asked the court to withdraw the show-cause notice.
