ISLAMABAD – Top ARY Anchor Arshad Sharif lands in big trouble as SupremeCourt grills him over discussing a subjudice matter in his talk show.
The Supreme Court (SC) had issued a show-cause notice to ARY News anchorArshad Sharif for discussing a sub-judice matter in his talk show regardingan affidavit, the other day, submitted by former president Asif Ali Zardaripertaining to his assets in the NRO case.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had taken a suo motu notice regarding thesaid programme wherein the affidavit of Asif Ali Zardari was discussed.
During the show it was questioned as to whether Asif Ali Zardari submitteda false affidavit in National Reconciliation Ordinance case (NRO).
On Wednesday, a three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chiefjustice Mian Saqib Nisar resumed the hearing into the matter and issuedshow cause notice to the channel host besides directing the PakistanElectronic Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to submit video clip of the saidprogramme.
The court also issued notices to Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA),Pemra as well as Attorney General. During the hearing, Federal Minister forInformation and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry and anchorperson appearedbefore the court.
The chief justice asked the anchorperson as to how he could discuss in hisshow cases which are pending before the court. The chief justice furtherasked that despite the fact that two of his guests he had invited to theshow were reluctant to discuss the sub judice matter but he kept on forcingthem to comment.
The chief justice further said that the court had already advised theNational Accountability Bureau (NAB) against inadvertently or intentionallydefaming individuals who are subject to accountability inquiries.
The chief justice while addressing the anchorperson said that comments madein his show are prejudicial to court proceedings, adding that strict actioncould be taken against him. “You have nothing to do with the court’smatter”, the CJP asked the anchor questioning as to whether he is a judgeor a court of law. Justive Saqib said that they cannot discuss sub judicematter in the TV talk shows.
The chief justice observed that such comments in TV programmes couldinfluence the court proceedings, warning that action could be taken againsthim. The chief justice said that they issued notices to PakistanBroadcasters Association (PBA) and all media houses asking them to informthe court as to what the code of conduct for media is.