ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court has served notices to two leading newspapers for allegedly reporting judges remarks incorrectly.
The top court issued notices to Jang and The News on Wednesday after it took suo motu notice on the misreporting of a court remarks, in which Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had appeared to slam the government.
The News had reported that the Chief Justice while hearing a suo motu case of illegal constructions in Banigala “remarked that the current government lacked capability and planning”.
The Chief Justice distanced himself from those comments, adding that “this news is false”.
He said that the court story was misreported. The top judge remarked recording of the proceedings is available and it can be played.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that television programmes were also aired on the basis of the untrue story.
The court also issued an official notification stating, “We are surprised as the court never made such observations about the federal government, in fact some observations were made against the Capital Development Authority (CDA). This is an instance of gross misreporting on behalf the said media groups.”
The court issued notices to the “editors, printers and publishers of the newspapers to explain as to why action under the relevant law should not be taken against them”.
The respondents have been directed to submit a reply today (Nov 15).
