Arrest warrants for TV channel staffers issued
KARACHI- An anti-terrorism court issued bailable warrants for the arrest of four staffers of a London-based TV channel, for not appearing before the court in a contempt of court case.
Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3, who had earlier served the staffers of the ARY Digital with a notice of personal appearance, fixed Aug 25 for taking up the matter and ordered the four officials to appear before the court.
The judge had summoned S M Shakeel, Rauf, Iqbal and Dr Shahid Masood of the TV channel, along with provincial jail chief, Brig Nisar Mehar, superintendent of Central Prison, Karachi, Rashid Saeed, and a convicted murderer, Shaikh Mohammed Amjad, on an application filed by Fazalur Rahman.
The convict, who had kidnapped and killed the 22-year-old son of the applicant for ransom, along with the jail superintendent, appeared before the court and filed their respective written replies.
According to the notice, the TV channel staffers recorded and telecast an interview of the convict Shaikh Amjad, who made derogatory, insulting and objectionable remarks against the ATC-3 and the apex court.
Mr. Rahman stated that the ARY Digital, in its programme gave an impression to the public that the law courts were biased and functioning only to punish the poor and give relief to rich people. “Bald headed young girls, behind the bars, were shown crying and begging for mercy, creating a feeling of hatred against the judicial system of Pakistan,” he stated.
The applicant, who submitted the tape of the interview, also attached the transcript of Shaikh Amjad’s utterances.
He stated that the media were invited to record interviews of prisoners to remove impression of cruelty and alleged inhuman treatment meted out to the convicts in the jails.
Source: Dawn
Date:8/19/2003
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