Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The joint investigation team (JIT) probing Sharif family’s assets abroad has raised objections over media coverage of the proceedings of the implementation bench of the Supreme Court in Panama case, claiming the news reports were creating hindrance in the way of the investigation.

The coverage of court proceedings by media, which is never considered as an attempt to prejudice any case, has been a common practice all over the world to make the general public aware of what was being done by judiciary for expeditious dispensation of justice to the common people.

However, in an unprecedented move, the JIT while submitting the details of impediments and hurdles in the way of probe in Panama case has expressed its reservations over media coverage of the court proceedings as well.

In a 120-page document detailing the ‘impediments’, the JIT annexed around 18 news stories of routine proceedings published in different newspapers. Also going further, JIT attached 19 op-ed articles of country’s top writers regarding the situation in the country.

A three-judge implementation bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan had directed the JIT to submit in written the details of hurdles and impediments facing by it in the course of investigation.

Interestingly, out of 120 pages, only eight carry the details regarding the obstacles allegedly created by state institutions or the Sharif family and the remaining document is filed with the material containing media debates.

Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf, in his reply over the impediments, stated that it appeared that JIT used to spend more time in monitoring the electronic and social media. “The annexures appended with the application range from articles published in the newspaper, screenshots of statements and tweets and messages on the social media. It appears that a lot of time and energy has been consumed in gathering the aforesaid material. The JIT appears to have spent time watching talk shows, reading articles and monitoring tweets and messages on the social media arranging the same in a systematic manner and translating the same were deemed necessary by them,” stated AGP in his reply submitted on court’s direction.

The JIT had complained before the top court that Intelligence Bureau (IB), which functions under the prime minister, was observing and hacking their and their families’ social media accounts. However, JIT itself submitted a pile of papers highlighting the social media activities of citizens, including politicians and journalists.

The JIT has categorised the material into further subheadings, like ‘Media Analysis Reports on Bashing of JIT and Supreme Court by Government Machinery’, ‘Electronic Media Analysis Report- Critical Remarks Against JIT and Supreme Court by Government Machinery’ and ‘Electronic Media Analysis Report-Efforts to Discredit Supreme Court and JIT’.

The ‘Media Analysis Report on Bashing of JIT and Supreme Court’ contains the script of around 43 footages and clips of different news channels wherein Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leaders indulged in media debates over the ongoing situation. The same analysis report also includes the transcript of 27 anchorpersons and legal experts.

Likewise, ‘Electronic Media Analysis Report on Efforts of Discrediting Supreme Court and JIT’ includes transcripts of opinions of around 70 journalists, 36 politicians and 17 legal experts.

Despite the fact that JIT’s mandate is to carryout interrogation against Sharif family under top court’s April 20 order and that too mainly around 13 questions regarding Sharif family’s business dealings abroad, the document shows that the investigation panel has gone one step further from its domain while minutely monitoring the social media discussions on JIT and Panama Papers case by the citizens.

In this regard, JIT has also appended 97 tweets, of wider engagements and thousands of impressions, tweeted and re-tweeted by politicians including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, journalists and general public.

Besides Twitter handles, JIT also included WhatsApp messages and Facebook statuses going against and in favour of the JIT.

The three-judge implementation bench will take up the issue of impediments in the investigation process for hearing on Monday wherein AGP would assist the court.