IHC dismisses petition against National Press Club

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 2 July 2015

The Islamabad High Court has dismissed a misleading petition against the National Press Club. The petitioner, a journalist from Rawalpindi, was reprimanded for attempting to mislead the court regarding club operations.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court Wednesday dismissed a petition against the National Press Club and reprimanded the petitioner for misleading the court. Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi heard the petition filed by a Rawalpindi-based journalist against the NPC, urging the court to separate Rawalpindi Press Club from Islamabad Press Club. In a previous hearing, the court had ordered seizing of club's bank account and barred it from functioning. The NPC counsel Barrister Afzal Hussain informed the court that a local court has already given a verdict on a similar petition but the petitioner has hidden the facts from the court and tried to mislead it. The court was also informed the petitioner is neither a member of the club nor secretary as claimed by him in the petition. The judge sought details of the club’s bank account seizure from the counsel of National Bank but the latter said he is not aware about the bank account. The judge said the bank should take action against the official who seized the club’s account on just seeking comments on it. The court reprimanded the petitioner’s lawyer and dismissed the petition.

KEY POINTS:

• Islamabad High Court dismisses petition against National Press Club.
• Petitioner misled the court about membership details.
• Court had previously seized the club's bank account.
• Judge criticizes petitioner's lawyer for lack of evidence.
• Counsel for NPC highlights prior court rulings on the matter.