Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman appears before Supreme Court in contempt case

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 25 July 2017

The Supreme Court resumed a contempt case against The News for alleged false reporting. Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and others were summoned for hearings.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday resumed hearing on a contempt case against The News (Jang Group) for false reporting.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal observed that ‘irresponsible reporting’ was done and the paper had to tender an apology.

It further observed the paper discredited the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and the Supreme Court.

Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman (pictured), Editor-in-Chief of The News, publisher Mir Javed-ur-Rehman, and reporter Ahmad Noorani appeared before the court.

The court was angered by the incomplete reply submitted but gave Mir Shakil more time to submit additional response with complete documents. The hearing was adjourned until August 22.

A contempt notice was issued on July 10 to the printer, publisher, and reporter of The News for the story "Panama JIT ‘doesn’t find PM guilty,’ but his sons". The story appeared in the paper the day the JIT was to submit its report with the Supreme Court.

The JIT probed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family for alleged money-laundering.

Key Points

Supreme Court hears contempt case against The News.
Court finds 'irresponsible reporting' regarding JIT.
Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman given more time to respond.
Hearing adjourned until August 22.
Contempt notice issued for misleading story on PM's family.

Relevant Topics

Supreme Court

MIR Shakil-UR-Rahman

Contempt Case

THE News

Justice Ejaz Afzal

Panama Papers

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