Petition for press freedom moved with SC | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Petition for press freedom moved with SC

LAHORE: A constitutional petition, asking for a declaration that the press has the freedom to expose the truth, has been moved in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, according to a press release issued on Sunday.

In the petition, filed under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution, Safdar Iqbal of Islamabad has stated that because a court official was shown taking a bribe on the Geo TV show Gumnaam, the Lahore High Court has begun contempt proceedings against the channel. This is contrary to the law and the Constitution of Pakistan, the petition states, since the programme did not criticised a ruling or judgment of any court but merely showed a court official taking a bribe. An official of the court cannot be put at par with a judge, the petitioner said, adding that under article 19 of the Constitution, freedom of the press is guaranteed.
Source: Daily Times
Date:2/26/2007