Supreme Court suspends IHC decision on Mubasher Lucman

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 19 June 2014

The Supreme Court suspended the IHC's restriction on television anchor Mubasher Lucman. The court highlighted that Lucman's perspective was not considered before the ruling.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday suspended the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision to restrict television anchor Mubashir Lucman from conducting any program.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Nasir Malik was hearing Lucman’s plea against IHC’s decision. Advocate Irfan Qadri said the decision was suspended on the basis of the fact that Lucman's point of view was not heard before the restriction was imposed on him.

The court also issued notices to the respondents including Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Geo/Jang group, Attorney General of Pakistan regarding Lucman’s case for deriding the superior judiciary.

The TV anchorman has been accused to have engaged in a character assassination campaign against former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Lucman is also alleged to have discredited Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja while he was hearing a case about the conduct of a television channel.

IHC had barred Lucman from conducting any program on a petition filed by Lal Masjid Shuhada Foundation.