Tazeen Akhtar
Caretaker Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi on Sunday said the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was investigating the “malicious campaign” against the top judiciary on social media in accordance with the law. Addressing a news conference along with officials of the FIA, PTA and other relevant institutions, the minister said the JIT was formed on January 16 to probe into the anti-judiciary campaign on the social media networking sites.
It is interesting that the Info Minister has judged the campaign before the JIT as he termed it “Malicious” – When he himself reached to the conclusion and issue the ruling as well, then what is need of investigation and inquiry?
JIT’s first meeting held was on January 17 while the second one convened on January 23. The process to probe into the drive was still underway. So far, 600 social media accounts were investigated, as many as 100 inquiries were registered. Notices were served on 110 individuals that included 32 journalists and 22 politicians and political workers.
The notices to the identified individuals were served in accordance with the law, Solangi said while brushing aside the reports regarding the harassment of journalists in the matter related to a “malicious campaign” against top judges.
It is again very interesting from the minister. He means no one is harassed when one receives notices from FIA and one enjoys when engaged in investigations. This is great of Mr Solangi indeed. Rational working is that you first see the material under investigation journalists shared /filed is based on facts or it is false? Against is not important. Right or wrong is important.
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The minister said it was imperative to bring forth the facts in this regard. So far no First Investigation Report was lodged against anybody, nor anyone was arrested for this matter. Law would take its course and actions against those who were involved in running the campaign against the judiciary would be taken in accordance with the law.He has said there were reasonable restrictions on the freedom of expression and the law of the land prohibited from running campaigns against the judiciary and armed forces.
“This is not about criticism rather it is related to character assassination and ridiculing , Minister noted.
Here the minister is right. Character assassination and ridiculing of anyone is not acceptable, either they are justices or the general public.
FIA Director General Ahmad Ishaque Jahangir said notices were served to give an opportunity to the identified individuals to give their side of version on the issue. “Not every notice end up in the FIR,” he added.
Unfortunately , Pakistani judiciary has always been criticized for its performance and conduct. There are some points to keep in mind before state authorities are used against the critics :
Judiciary Itself is Responsible ?
First of all one can see what is the grading of Pakistani judiciary in the list of the world. World Justice Project ranked Pakistani judiciary at 130 among 142 countries. In the region , it is at number 5 among 6. Our judiciary exonerated a person in murder case who was already hanged to death.
Pakistani judiciary mostly itself provided the opportunities for criticism as well as ridicule and personal pinching as well. The conducts of different justices and chief justices can be noted here. Many have been in the lime light in last couple of years let alone the deep history of legalizing the Marshall Laws, giving oath at LFOs, sentencing Bhutto to death etc.
Marshall Law Judiciary
CJP Irshad Hassan gave three years to Gen Musharraf without his demand. What does it express? Chief Justices and Justices have been seeking pleasure of dictators by validating their abrogation of the constitution of Pakistan.Justice Irshad Hassan did not bothered to ask about what is Chief Executive ? Where any article of the constitution, any law, any tradition brings any example that a nuclear state will be governed by a Chief Executive?
Political Judiciary
We always raise the question ” Why our superior judiciary is always welcoming to hear the political matters? Especially when thousands of public interest cases remain pending for years. To get extensions? To secure their future after retirement? or Justices are fond of publicity only? To provide breaking news and news alerts based upon the remarks of the honorable justices?
Judiciary with General Bajwa and Gen Faiz for Imran
CJP Saqib Nisar was the leader of this judiciary that toed the line against sitting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Disqualification of PM of country by this CJP could never fetch any credibility because it was the most disputed and controversial decision. CJP Bindial was second in the same category. His conduct, remarks are on record exposing his tilt towards Imran Khan. When this judiciary was walking with one political party PTI, the other PMLN was criticizing it.
Judiciary after Imran,Bajwa,Faiz
The incumbent judiciary is not doing the same and try to look neutral but there are some matters that make it target of PTI workers. Election symbol “BAT” remained a big issue in this country when the public was hardly living because of high inflation. Allotment of election symbol is not the domain of SCP. It is for Election Commission to decide about the symbols. Why incumbent judiciary did not referred the case to ECP? Now when this judiciary has done the needful for some quarters, they should be prepared for response of PTI workers.
Character Assassination of Judiciary
Here the known example if Justice R Javed Iqbal, posted Chairman NAB whose objectionable video was released by a woman from his office. Why Justice Manazar Ali Naqvi resigned. Why justice Ijaz ul Ahsan resigned abruptly? Justice Javed Iqbal was head of an authority responsible to NAB the corrupt. Who will NAB chairman NAB if he asks a women to fulfill his desire ? If Justice Manazar and Ijaz have done something wrong, why they are let to leave without accountability? Because they are honorable Justices? Justices are not responsible themselves for their character assassination?
Injustice and Infidelity
Hazrat Ali said , ” System with infidelity can sustain but system with injustice can not live long.”
Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH) said, ” The nations before you were destroyed because they would spare the powerful and punish the poor only.”
Information Minister should be informed about about it and it is hoped he is informed. But the actions in this state, that was created as Islamic Ideological state, are telling the other side of story. Journalists, writers, vlogger are being fixed for their criticize only because they are easy to be hit and they are not relatives of any big gun but the powerful and influential are finding the safe passage without any inquiry only, let alone the punishment.
It is not hard to see the future of the state in this state of affairs in the light of the teachings of Islam and what Hazrat Ali and our last Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH)said.
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