The Supreme Court (SC)
on Tuesday banned television anchorperson Shahid Masood from hosting his
programme for three months and asked him to submit a written apology to the
court.
The news anchor offered
the court an unconditional apology "from the depths of his heart" for
being unable to prove his startling allegations against the convicted rapist
and murderer, Imran Ali, of six-year-old Zainab in Kasur. Chief Justice Mian
Saqib Nisar, however, dismissed the verbal apology, saying: "I will not
forgive you without punishment".
"I have been
hearing about the 'depths of your heart' for a while now," Justice Nisar
remarked.
The CJP then told Masood
to "suggest a punishment for himself or the court will ban him for six
months". Masood first suggested a ban for one month and then extended it
to two months.
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The SC announced a ban
for three months and ordered the anchorperson to submit a written apology.
Justice Nisar warned him that the courts "were not the same as
before".
Editorial: Yellow
journalism
At the beginning of
today's hearing, Justice Nisar lambasted the anchorperson for "insulting
[the CJP's] law officer" during his late night programme. "How dare
he insult my law officer?" the CJP asked.
"I can get a screen
installed to watch the remarks you gave in your characteristic loud
voice," Justice Nisar said, adding that the court could charge Masood for
contempt of court.
In an earlier hearing
this month on March 7, the CJP had refused to
accept a verbal apology from News One anchorperson for his startling
allegations against the convicted rapist and murderer of six-year-old Zainab in
Kasur.
Masood, on March 12, had
submitted a written apology in court, saying that he was "sorry if the
transmission hurt anyone's sentiments". The apology was again rejected by
the CJP who said that the anchorperson "had not apologised" in his
answer.
The anchorperson had
claimed during a late night show in January that
convict Imran Ali was a member of a pornography gang which also includes a
Punjab minister. During earlier hearings of the case, Masood had also told the
court that the suspect has 37 foreign accounts.
Imran Ali, who was
convicted in the rape and murder of Zainab Amin by an Anti-terrorism Court in
February, had appealed to the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the verdict that
handed him death penalty on four counts, pleading not guilty to the offences.
His appeal was turned down by the LHC on Tuesday.
Sources : https://www.dawn.com/news/1396458/will-not-forgive-without-punishment-sc-bans-shahid-masood-from-hosting-tv-show-for-3-months
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