ISLAMABAD – A renowned lawyer has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking live streaming/broadcast of the proceedings of the apex court in all matters of public importance.
Invoking the original jurisdiction of the court, Raheel Kamran Sheikh has moved the petition on Saturday, seeking directives by the apex court to broadcast the proceedings, in particular, the proceedings under Article 184 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The petitioner while citing Articles 9, 10A, 19A and Article 25 of the constitution has sought the intervention of the top court to issue directives in this regard, arguing that the order would reinforce the rule of law, ensure the upholding of the principle of open, transparent and accessible justice, uphold the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Court, and enhance public confidence in the institution of the judiciary.
Sheikh, who is a member of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), has made Registrar Supreme Court of Pakistan, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and Federation of Pakistan respondents in the case.
The petitioner also mentioned Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Northern Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Scotland and South Africa to have allowed the live broadcast of court proceedings, seeking the same permission for Pakistan’s top court.
Calling for de-colonization of laws, the petitioner has contended that laws are drafted, enacted and published in English while an overwhelming majority of the public is not able to comprehend the proceedings, seeking the permission to broadcast the proceedings of the court.
“Live streaming/broadcasting of the proceedings of this august Court, at least in cases involving public importance, is a necessary extension of the same requirement of law guaranteed by the fundamental right to information embodied in Article 19A of the Constitution,” stated the petitioner.
The seasoned lawyer also maintained that live streaming will reduce the congestion in the courtroom and will reduce the need for the litigants to travel to the court to observe the proceedings in their cases.
Raheel Kamran Sheikh has prayed the court to permit the live broadcast of the Supreme Court proceedings and set up an infrastructure in this regard. The petitioner has also maintained that for exceptional cases, the august court reserves the right to deny the broadcast of proceedings, however, with a certain legal framework enshrined in the Supreme Court rules.
