JournalismPakistan.com
August 29, 2018

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to ARY News presenter Arshad Sharif for discussing sub-judice matters in his program Power Play.

Dawn reported that Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heading a three-member bench took a sou motu notice of the program aired on August 28.

In the show, an affidavit submitted by former President Asif Ali Zardari regarding his assets was discussed.

Arshad Sharif appeared in court along with Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. "How can you discuss cases being heard in courts [during your programme]?", Dawn quoted Justice Nisar as asking Sharif.

"Comments like these [those made in the show] are prejudicial to court proceedings," the CJP remarked, warning Sharif of action against him. He also termed the discussion akin to "interference in court matters".

The court observed that the program was a straightforward case of conducting a media trial.

Later the court issued a show-cause notice to Sharif, the attorney general, Pakistan Broadcasters Association and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

The hearing was adjourned until September 12 with PEMRA being asked to present clips of the show Power Play in court.

Photo courtesy: ARY News