Charges against channel owner to be framed on Dec 12: SC
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued summons to ARY TV Chief Executive Salman Iqbal to appear before the court on December 12 for framing charges against him in a contempt of court case for maligning the judiciary in a TV programme.
A three-member special bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal and comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Mushir Alam resumed hearing the contempt of court case against ARY TV Chief Executive Salman Iqbal and anchorperson Mubashir Luqman.
Irfan Qadir counsel for Salman Iqbal and anchorperson Mubashir Luqman appeared before the court and filed an application for exemption of ARY TV Chief Executive Salman Iqbal from appearing in the court stating that he was abroad for treatment of his ailing daughter.
Irfan Qadir sought some two weeks for the respondent Salman Iqbal, saying that he had to leave for abroad due to his daughter’s illness. The court observed that recently Slaman Iqbal had landed in Pakistan. Sabir Shakir, an employee of ARY TV however, informed the court that Salman Iqbal had indeed been the country but he left for abroad on November 29 due to his daughter’s illness.
Irfan Qadir told the court that he would argue on the matter of indictment of his client after he receives the copy of the order passed by the larger bench in the Intra Court Appeal (ICA) he had filed on behalf of his clients against their indictment in the instant contempt of court case.
Mubashir Luqman, anchorperson ARY TV was present in the courtroom. Meanwhile, the court directed ARY TV Chief Executive Salman Iqbal to appear in-person before the court on December 12 for framing charge against him for maligning the judiciary.
It is pertinent to mention here that a five member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Nasir ul Mulk on November 20, disposed of the Intra Court Appeal (ICA), filed by Salman Iqbal, ARY TV Chief Executive and Mubashir Luqman against their indictment in contempt of court case for maligning the judiciary in a TV programme.
The court had disposed of the intra court appeal after the applicants decided not to press their appeal before the larger bench but to appear before the trial court.
On October 13, 2014, a three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Mushir Alam had ruled to indict Executive Officer (CEO) ARY Television Salman Iqbal and anchorperson Mubashir Lucman on October 30, 2014 in the anti-judiciary programme case.
The court had summoned ARY TV Chief Executive Officer Salman Iqbal and anchorperson Mubashir Luqman on 30th October for framing of charges of maligning the judges.“After going through the transcript of the two clips that contained anti-judiciary remarks and reply filed by the respondent we have decided to proceed with the contempt matter against CEO ARY Salman Iqbal and anchorperson Mubashir Luqman.”, the court had ruled in its order and directed the respondents to appear before it on October 30 for framing of charges.
Earlier, on September 9, 2014, the court had issued contempt of court notices to anchorperson Mubashir Luqman and CEO of the ARY TV channel for allegedly maligning the judges of the apex court in a programme broadcast on May 29, 2014.
The News
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-34474-Charges-against-channel-owner-to-be-framed-on-Dec-12-SC
” 
” 
” 
” 
