LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday granted time to the Punjab advocate general and the prosecutor general to submit written reports on the matter of filming videos and viral interviews during police operations.

Justice Ali Zia Bajwa was hearing a case related to filming and uploading videos of arrested women and men by Kasur police and the media interviews of traffic rules violators on the roads.

On the court’s order, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Dr Athar Waheed also attended the hearing.

Justice Bajwa asked the CTO whether it was necessary to film someone while issuing fine tickets (challan) and upload it on social media.

The judge observed that there must be a balance between the rights of the state and the citizens, and this principle should be maintained.

“If someone is declared a proclaimed offender, only then should their media coverage be allowed,” the judge added.

The judge further observed that individuals intercepted at police checkpoints were not legally considered under custody.

The judge said that if helmets were being given to motorists, it should be done respectfully and not in a manner that humiliates them.

The CTO said that the safe city cameras also issue challans to motorists, which was a privacy concern.

Justice Bajwa noted that no one was stopping enforcement of traffic laws, but it must be done without disrespecting people.

He warned that if any individual was publicly humiliated during the process of issuing a traffic challan, the SP of the area would be held responsible.

The judge pointed out that recently a news channel reporter was seen pressuring the CTO to respond on camera.

Justice Bajwa questioned if someone refuses to answer, can the media force them to respond?

“Asking a question is a journalist’s right, but answering or not answering is the respondent’s prerogative,” he maintained.

The judge ruled that forcing someone to answer was equivalent to harassment.

Advocate General of Punjab Amjad Pervez informed the court that the chief minister formed a high-powered committee to investigate the Kasur video incident.

The judge hailed the formation of the committee and remarked that the step was commendable, but it should not result in the case being wrapped up here and then forgotten later.

The judge directed the advocate general and the prosecutor general to submit detailed reports by the next hearing on the matter of filming individuals in custody of Kasur police.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2025