(PPF/IFEX) – On 20 October 1999, the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued notices of contempt of court to prominent columnist Ardesher Cowasjee and to the managing director of the state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) for commenting about the judiciary in a programme telecast live on 19 October. A press release issued by the office of […]
(PPF/IFEX) – On 20 October 1999, the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued
notices of contempt of court to prominent columnist Ardesher Cowasjee and to
the managing director of the state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation
(PTV) for commenting about the judiciary in a programme telecast live on 19
October.
A press release issued by the office of the chief justice of the Supreme
Court of Pakistan, Justice Saiduzzaman Siddiqui, said a note was sent to him
by Justice Munir A Shaikh, who watched the TV programme in which Cowasjee
made remarks which prima facie appeared to be scandalous and contemptuous in
nature. The remark, which caught the attention of Justice Munir, was
Cowasjee’s suggestion that accountability should start from the judiciary
because the judiciary as a whole had become corrupt.
In his comments, the chief justice expressed full agreement that there was a
prima facie contempt of court and ordered that the petition be registered
and that a notice be issued to Cowasjee and the managing director of the PTV
and STN to appear in court on 25 October. The managing director of PTV has
been directed to produce to the court the original videotape of the
programme.
