Talk of Allah, Quran, Pakistan and...Slander, but apologise when court seeks proof

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AFP
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Talk of Allah, Quran, Pakistan and...Slander, but apologise when court seeks proof
LAHORE: Level allegation against anyone without proof, do mudslinging, mention Allah, Quran and Pakistan again and again and when the court seeks proof, bow down before it and offer an apology.

The practical demonstration of this slander was seen on Friday when the owner and an anchorperson of the ARY News offered an apology to the Lahore High Court for levelling allegations against some people. They submitted the apology after the court directed submission of proof of their allegations.

After the ARY team offered the apology, the five-member full bench of the LHC allowed Khara Sach anchor Mubashar Lucman to resume his programme besides deleting his name from the exit control list and adjourned for two weeks the hearing on a contempt petition against ARY News Chief Executive Salman Iqbal, Mubashar Lucman, Lahore Bureau Chief (BC) Arif Hameed Bhatti and Islamabad BC Sabir Shakir.

The full bench led by Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and comprising Justice Kazim Shamsi, Justice Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Justice Shahzada Mazher and Justice Sohail Iqbal Bhatti also temporarily exempted all the respondents from personal appearance before the court.

During proceedings, the court said it would give a detailed judgment on the issue that would lay down guidelines for all state institutions. Salman Iqbal, Mubashar Lucman, Arif Hameed Bhatti and an ARY producer appeared before the court.

Justice Naqvi enquired of Sabir Shakir who was the judge he had commented on in his November 17 programme. Shakir replied he had not commented about this court. The court once again asked him to reveal the name of the judge he talked about. At this, Shakir offered an unconditional apology and requested the court not to treat his statement as contempt of court.

Arif Hameed Bhatti also submitted an apology to the court, saying that he would remain careful while commenting on the judiciary in future. The court remarked everyone was bound to respect the national institutions and TV channels should conduct public welfare programmes and create awareness among the masses about their rights.

All the counsel of ARY channels also offered an apology to the court. Salman Iqbal assured the court no programme lowering the dignity of the judiciary and other national institutions would be aired by the ARY channels in future.

The court asked Lucman to work carefully and suggested changing the name of his programme. The court said he should conduct programmes on health and education and create an awareness among the general public.

The ARY lawyers requested the court to withdraw the contempt notices issued to their clients. The court adjourned the hearing for 15 days and directed the respondents to appear before it whenever summoned. The court also asked working journalists to submit recommendations for formulating a guideline for the media.