ISLAMABAD: The next week’s hearing of contempt case against journalists and social media activists for allegedly scandalising Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri has been put off.

Earlier this month, the IHC registrar fixed the case for hearing on Sept 19 before the full court — including seven IHC judges.

According to sources, the hearing was cancelled since one of the bench members, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, was unavailable on the said date as he was on leave.

The registrar’s office will now reschedule the hearing after seeking instructions from Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.

Sources say a judge is not available to hear case on Sept 19

The full court, headed by Chief Justice Farooq, took notice of the social media posts of journalists and other activists regarding the law degree of Justice Jahangiri.

The defendants in this case have been accused of disseminating a letter written by the University of Karachi, from where the judge completed his degree.

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The letter was written in reply to a complaint filed against the judge’s degree under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017.

The letter was shared by several social media activists and journalists, along with the subsequent complaint filed against Justice Jahangiri with the Supreme Judicial Council.

Earlier, the court issued notices to the journalists, social media activists, Federal Investigation Agency, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and FIA director general to file their reports within four weeks.

These reports will name individuals “who have participated in the smear campaign and/or shared content on media/social media to besmirch the credentials of the Judge,” as per the bench’s order issued after a hearing in July.

The seven-member full court has also sought assistance from the Pakistan Bro­a­­­­dcasters Assoc­iation, Council of Pakis­tan Newspapers Editors, All Pakistan Newspaper Society, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors to assist the court on “the role of the media in relation to the principle of independence of the judiciary”.

It appointed the Pakistan Bar Council vice chairman, Supreme Court Bar Association president, Islamabad Bar Council vice chairman and presidents of Islamabad High Court Bar Association and Islamabad Bar Association as amici curiae “on the question of the independence and accountability of the judiciary.”

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2024