LAHORE: Lahore High Court chief justice-designate Mamoon Rashid Sheikh on Tuesday sought replies from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, Federal Investigation Agency and other government authorities on a petition seeking action against people involved in vilification of sitting judges on social media.

The judge also sought assistance from the attorney general and Punjab advocate general in the matter.

A lawyer, Samiul Zamir Durrani, filed the petition referring to malicious propaganda and personal attacks on judges on social media in the wake of their judgements. He contended that social media had replaced the mainstream media and press, and irresponsible users and bloggers tried to push society into chaos. He further alleged that various political parties established their social media cells where they developed fake news and pictures in a bid to scandalise members of the judiciary.

The lawyer stated that the respondent authorities were fully competent to take action in this regard, but they failed to do so. He asked the court to order the respondents to take serious measures against the delinquents and permanently block social media accounts involved in sharing objectionable/malicious material besides bringing them to law.

Justice Sheikh directed the respondents to submit para-wise comments by Dec 5.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2019