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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to anchor Mubashir Luqman and the chief executive of the ARY news channel for broadcasting a defamatory program against the judiciary on May 29.
A three-member special bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal, directed the Deputy Attorney General to explain as to why no one has been appointed for the post of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) chairman and why it is being run on an ad-hoc basis.
The Deputy AG informed the bench that a committee has been formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to review the code of conduct for both print and electronic media after repeated attacks on the judiciary in the last few months.
The bench observed that after reviewing transcripts of the program aired on May 29 on ARY news channel, there are many things which entail proceedings.
The bench said that the media regulatory authority has been made toothless in the absence of a Pemra chairman which is why there have been repeated attacks on the dignity of judges, adding that no requisite action has been taken as yet.
The bench subsequently adjourned the hearing of the case until September 15.
Lucman has been accused of defaming and ridiculing people, including judges of the higher judiciary, during his talk show.
Earlier on July 7, a local court in Islamabad had issued a bailable arrest warrant against Lucman after he failed to appear before it.
Know more: Bailable arrest warrant issued against Mubashir Lucman again
On July 2, the Islamabad High Court had issued bailable arrest warrants for the CEO of ARY TV channel and Lucman on a plea seeking to bar the channel for airing a programme against the judiciary.
Also read: Arrest warrants issued for Mubashir Lucman, ARY chief
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (60) Closed
Sep 09, 2014 05:13pm
No one has been appointed for the post of Pemra chairman because sharif family k members khatam ho gaye hain. lol
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Sep 09, 2014 05:28pm
Here is a journalist who dares to speak true to power instead og licking up wards and stabbing down wards.
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Sep 09, 2014 05:29pm
no one is above the law including the judiciary...judges are just human being prone to corruption and temptation... we live in a bizarre society where judiciary is not indigenous, institutions are not indigenous. Super rich and corrupt rulers can buy any thing the price has to be right... Mubshir Lukman you are indeed a brave man and we salute you... remember the dead fish swims alone the stream the live one goes against it...
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Sep 09, 2014 05:32pm
Judiciary should not follow double standards. Both judiciary and armed forces are privilleged not to be criticized extensively. If this very judiciary has let Geo off the hook for defaming army they should also ignore ARY for this specific program.
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Sep 09, 2014 05:36pm
The enemies are going after all patriotic Pakistanis and judiciary is infiltrated. They can't order a vote recount but they can attack good TV presenter.
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Sep 09, 2014 05:39pm
Ittefaq group in full action.
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Sep 09, 2014 05:45pm
judiciary is making joke of itself.
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Sep 09, 2014 05:52pm
SC should decide what constitutes defamation and what constitutes criticism. There must be some limits and nobody should be allowed to say anything to anyone because he has a microphone, a hammer, a club or a chair.
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Sep 09, 2014 06:46pm
And what about the "freedom of speech and expression" enshrined in our constitution ?
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Sep 09, 2014 06:48pm
Judiciary has no right to silence the voice of people
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Sep 09, 2014 07:06pm
In civilized world judges and judiciary can be criticized. They are not considered as angels,
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Sep 09, 2014 07:27pm
So all of you PTI supporters are saying that Mubashir Luqman is an Angel from heaven and he can make mistakes ?? look at his past as wel when he was asking for a plot to Malik Riaz on a live program and tawking to PM Gillanis son on his cell on live show wot was all that ??
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Sep 09, 2014 07:28pm
Mubashar is telling the truth which some people cannot take.
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Sep 09, 2014 07:40pm
Good decision. Any anchor hold a microphone and start taking on national broadcasting what ever they think is right.
Its their personal opinion can not be force to masses. I am glad such a decision bared other to stay in limits.
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Sep 09, 2014 07:42pm
we have already saw the real face of M luqman , IK not only stands with these match fixers but tells his party members that this is the future and in nea paksitan these are the role models for up coming journalists...
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Sep 09, 2014 07:45pm
no body is above law including judiciary..people has the right to criticize the biased and political verdict .
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Sep 09, 2014 07:46pm
Mubashir Lucman is the paragon of virtue. I remember his brilliant interview with Malik Riaz of Bahria town where he did not take any planted questions. He is so successful as a media person that he does not have to modify tapes to show that rangers did not really kill Sarfraz Shah. He did not black mail Aitchison to accept his son into the school. He is a saint
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Sep 09, 2014 07:48pm
Sad day.
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Sep 09, 2014 07:49pm
Ho hum. Another arrest warrant issued for Mubashir and another Notice. We PTI dont believe in the Judiciary. And Mubashir is PTI. He even helped write the script.
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Sep 09, 2014 07:54pm
Ok .. just hang Lucman for this big crime. . .but what taking actions on written and documented proves against these corrupt parliamentarians? ? Did these courts ever bother to take actions?? killing of innocent people in model town. . It seems like our judiciary is protecting the so called democracy where lies rule us. .keep it up SC.
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Sep 09, 2014 07:58pm
By taking such actions the Judiciary is further exposing itself to be a biased institution, why cant Judiciary take action against Geo ?? Nawaz Sharif - Geo - Judiciary Nexus showing its true colors....
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Sep 09, 2014 07:59pm
It's looks like Imram khan has fouled so much hatred that his supporters can't take any institution who goes against their leader or his favourite clan
All these who coment against Judiciary should get contempt noticed as well as their Mubashi Lucman
I dare you all say anything vulgar or bad against judiciary and you have to face justice :)
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Sep 09, 2014 08:03pm
@Wachucha NO! GEO has face the justice as per law and now it's Mubashir Lucman and ARY's turn
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Sep 09, 2014 08:04pm
@Imran Khan Lolz jasaiy Imran khan Aur uskay chamchay bhi khutam horehay hain :D
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Sep 09, 2014 08:05pm
@Zak who says ARY is not bad, it's the worst in Pakistan's history
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Sep 09, 2014 08:07pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Chanda man ganay walay Aur Galliyan denay walay Aur contempt of court se tu bhethar hee hey :)
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Sep 09, 2014 08:08pm
@muhammad feuding hatred and contempt of court is not freedom of speech in Islamic Republic of Pakistan :) go to Netherlands for your type if Freedom of Speech
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Sep 09, 2014 08:16pm
Are we saying judges can do whatever they like? They are not accountable?
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Sep 09, 2014 08:30pm
Without condoning SC actions i think Mubshir Lukman is just another in the long list of know it all, self centered, hypocrite journalists.
Sentimentalization is what they crave.
integrity 0
Intellectual depth 0
Typical of people with limited ability in the position of power and responsibility.
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Sep 09, 2014 08:32pm
SC should allow criticism based on evidence. It's time for some some self reflection SC.
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Sep 09, 2014 08:33pm
Mubashir Luqman is a dim-witted flamethrower. He is no journalist and his commentary is completely partisan with no respect for facts. He is in effect Pakistan's crazier version of Bill O'Reilly.
As much as I disagree with him as a journalist, he still should not be prosecuted for speaking out against the judiciary or against any other institution. Same goes for GEO, they should not be penalized for speaking out against any institution. These are basic tenets of any society aspiring to be truly free.
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Sep 09, 2014 08:52pm
Of late the Supreme Court has issued notices to anchor Mubashir Luqman and the chief executive of the ARY news channel for broadcasting a defamatory program against the judiciary on May 29. It is never too late to regain its credibility.
It is not too late to take suo motu on Model Town massacre of June 16 17.
It is not too late to decide the famous case of Arsalan Iftikhar ex-CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry
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Sep 09, 2014 08:53pm
If we are not ready to hear the truth, why the NS government is claiming the freedom of press?
Mr. Luqman has exemplified as a brave journalist who speaks nothing but truth and this is why he is being dragged into these cases. Now Justice system is on the test.
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Sep 09, 2014 09:00pm
Nobody should be above the LAW or CRITICISM, including the Judges.
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Sep 09, 2014 09:06pm
I live in Canada and I have never seen any court meddle with media. Only in pakistan this happens.
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Sep 09, 2014 10:17pm
@Imran Khan
Lol
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Sep 09, 2014 10:21pm
@islamabadian
Reporting my dear friend with some drama. Ratings. But in the end I think he is very brave taking PM and judiciary head on. Most of the time he talks with proofs in hand.
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Sep 09, 2014 10:27pm
By doing this judiciary is getting involved in politics. Ex CJ iftikhars friends. Bad move. They go against while letting GEO go , they are announcing their side ---- PMLN/ sharif brothers. ) and NO as of now I have no respect for judiciary/-/- till they get serious about investigating Iftikhar and co. People are accusing there ex Cheif openly--- rather than going after rest of the world, they should look into the accusations. They might be able to gain some respect back.
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Sep 09, 2014 10:34pm
@Omer
You think our judiciary has respect? People are openly accusing their ex Chief. Rather than issuing contempt notices to rest of the world they should look into accusations against their ex chief. They may gain some respect back. As if now --- they are not trustworthy.
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Sep 09, 2014 10:47pm
About time some good judges put this liar out of sight for good. He is a pain to watch or listen.
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Sep 09, 2014 10:47pm
@Aman
May be he is taking sides but the way I see it. He accuses latter , first he shows up the proof and paper trail on the screen. And he offers the numbers to examine the proof. Obviously he works hard or he has contacts to get that stuff.
Mostly he seems against NS rather than for IK.
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Sep 09, 2014 11:03pm
@Itsqashi
"Any anchor hold a microphone and start taking on national broadcasting what ever they think is right. Its their personal opinion can not be force to masses."
No anchor can force anything on the masses. Don't you have a channel switch on your TV? Musharraf gave you 80 channels.
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Sep 09, 2014 11:05pm
Ban this propaganda machine
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Sep 09, 2014 11:06pm
The judiciary is now out to destroy this nation. They are also attacking media. Rather they should take so moto notice of the media people of all channels being beaten seriously by police. They can take so-motio notice of one bottle of liquer but the whole election was stolen and they are silent. What a double standard of this judiciary. The nation will stand with independent media !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sep 09, 2014 11:10pm
Instead of issuing Luqman a notice the SC should try to find out why is he bashing the judiciary. Simply issuing notice and forcing the people to stop their voice is not the solution of the problem. If not Luqman then someone else will raise the voice. This is the World of social media and internet. You can't just force the people to shut up. The judiciary system is rotten to the core and that needs to be fixed. Find the cure of the problem SC. We all know how corrupt is the judiciary system of Pakistan and how disgruntled are the people of Pakistan with this system.
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Sep 09, 2014 11:18pm
ML and IK nexus is part of the script of evil and both are bashing judges for same known reason.....
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Sep 09, 2014 11:30pm
Mian sahib, I am jobless and looking for one. I think am the best candidate for PEMRA chairmanship.
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Sep 09, 2014 11:33pm
Free speech and journalism is part of democracy. During Bush's era, there was a whole film released in theaters across the country which was against him, but it still showed. THAT is democracy. Not this nonsense.
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Sep 09, 2014 11:50pm
@muhammad : And what about sence of responsibility and Huquq ul Ibaad.
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Sep 10, 2014 12:43am
Every corrupt politician seems to be hanging onto the word "democracy" to save their skin , in their vocabulary the term democracy is KHULLEY AAM GUNDA GARDI a licence to freely do as they please . This anchor person is showing their true colours with evidence , yet he is being persecuted ? In effect the one that tells the truth in Pakistan is the bad guy? overwhelming majority of overseas Pakistanies are for the permanent change of power ,away with ppp and Nawaz sharif bring on new blood.
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Sep 10, 2014 02:57am
So it is true then, there is no freedom of speech in this country.
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Sep 10, 2014 03:12am
@Jawad
You ,my friend, speak out of ignorance. Pray tell me if like the rest of us, you are also only good at criticizing every one around ? And ever person not doing his own job well ,morally, he has no business in conducting smear campaign without possessing perfect proof.
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Sep 10, 2014 06:59am
People are misquoting the West! 'NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW, IN THE WEST', and Mubashir Lucman should not be regarded as above the Law!.
Democracy is not only about fair and transparent Elections only, and the key institutions must be respected and honoured, otherwise the society, as a whole, will dissipate into chaos and anarchy.
You can appeal a decision of a lower court or tribunal (on a point of law, mainly), but you are not allowed to make derogatory remarks or insult the judiciary, in the West, it amounts to serious contempt of court.
Mubashir Lucman thinks he is above the Law (or the law unto himself), and he can initiate media trials against Imran Khan & Dr Qadri's political opponents, and at times with no or dubious evidence. It is high-time, that the media's regulatory body enforces its code of professional conduct, if any, against such irresponsible media reporting and demands and upholds the highest standards of professionalism and ethics from journalists and TV anchors.
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Sep 10, 2014 11:12am
Zahra
u r brave and a great man GOd keep u under His protection we r praying for u all the time .Go ahead
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Sep 10, 2014 11:32am
No one surprised * keep it up in * nation building *
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Sep 10, 2014 12:10pm
Well done ML I salute you. Any institution is not above the criticism including SC. ML's voice would be voice of everyone.
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Sep 10, 2014 12:12pm
@Syed Ahmed you are 1000 % right. I salute you
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Sep 10, 2014 01:47pm
such a GOOD journalist mr mubshir lucman
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Sep 10, 2014 04:50pm
Thanks to Dawn for publishing my comments and showing unbiasness to a conscientious objector from abroad and no personal insult is meant for Mubashir Lucman, as I used to avidly watch his current affairs programme's.
Until I felt that he had gone too far in his media-trials and started harming the State institutions and seriously lacked 'objectivity' and 'independence of thought' in his media reporting and as a TV anchor, and prevented the viewers to form their own judgement's and opinion's rather than influencing their minds and hearts with biased and prejudiced talk shows and reporting.
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Sep 11, 2014 03:08pm
Law in our country is a joke along with the judiciary..
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