On Monday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) commenced contempt of court proceedings in response to a social media campaign targeting Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. The case was heard by a seven-member bench led by Chief Justice Amir Farooq, with Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Saman Rafat Imtiaz. Notably, Justice Jahangiri was not part of the full court bench.
At the beginning of the hearing, Additional Attorney General Munaur Iqbal was summoned to the court’s rostrum to elucidate the government’s position on the matter. Chief Justice Amir Farooq expressed his discontent over the government’s apparent inaction regarding the defamatory social media campaign against the judiciary. “It seems that the government is behind this campaign,” he remarked, reflecting the bench’s concern over the government’s silence.
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb further pressed the Additional Attorney General, stating, “The government’s silence suggests that they are involved in this.” These comments highlight the judiciary’s suspicions of potential government complicity or negligence in addressing the issue.
The Islamabad High Court issued notices to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and three journalists implicated in propagating the defamatory campaign. The court has adjourned the hearing until after the summer vacations, indicating the matter’s gravity and the need for thorough examination.
