Law: Constitution of Pakistan, 1973

Section: 9,10,11,13,14(1),14(2),15,18,19,19A,23,2 4(1),25A,184(3),227

Constitution of Pakistan--- ----Arts. 9, 10, 11, 13, 14(1), 14(2), 15, 18, 19, 19A, 23, 24(1), 25A, 184(3) 227---Suo motu case---Application submitted by journalists relating to independence of press and media---Harassment, intimidation and attack on journalists---Cases registered against journalists by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)---Media houses/television channels not allowing journalists to work freely and favoring a particular political narrative for getting advertisements from the Government---Observations and directions recorded by the Supreme Court in relation to issues faced by journalists and independence of press and media. Present application was to be treated as one under Article 184(3) of the Constitution because it demonstrated that matters of public importance had been raised with reference to the enforcement of Fundamental Rights, including Articles 9, 11, 13, 14(1), 14(2), 15, 18, 19, 19A, 23, 24(1) and 25A of the Constitution and as such it met the stipulated criteria prescribed in Article 184(3) of the Constitution. Moreover, if the allegations which had been leveled were true then it would be a grave transgression of the Constitution requiring urgent redressal. The applicants (working journalists) stated that journalists were harassed, intimidated, attacked and shot at and there were no consequences for the perpetrators and, it ws further alleged, that those who should be protecting journalists and ensuring the freedom of the press, guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution, were involved. Reference was also made to a Press Release, attached with the application, which was issued by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) stating that criminal cases had been registered against some journalists because they reported against the judiciary. The above-mentioned Press Release did not disclose what was said against the judiciary. Judges of the superior Courts were mandated by the Constitution to ensure that Fundamental Rights were at all times guaranteed and enforced. The said Press Release created an impression that criminal cases were registered at the behest of the judiciary, and in doing so it portrayed the judiciary to be…

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