Supreme Court’s Justice Athar Minalllah has remarked that the judges should fear no one and they should particularly not get influenced by the criticism on social media websites, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel.

Speaking at a training workshop organized for court reporters in Islamabad on Saturday, Justice Athar Minallah maintained that any judge influenced by social media would be violating their oath.

Referring to a historic speech by the founder of Pakistan delivered on August 11, 1947, Justice Minallah highlighted the initiation of an endless series of censorship on the state. He said criticism is an examination for the judiciary, and while everyone has the right to criticize, they should also trust the judiciary.

Justice Minallah emphasized the need to learn from the past, saying  if the freedom of expression had been recognized, the country would not have witnessed dictatorship, leaders facing execution or break-up.

Justice Minallah remarked that half of Pakistan’s history was marred by dictatorship, and freedom of expression was impossible under a dictatorship. He acknowledged the vital role the journalists played in promoting freedom of expression.

The Supreme Court judge said he learnt a lot from the court reporters.

He recounted that when he became a judge, the first case involved was of bail, emphasizing that as judges they could not hide anything. “The judges should be free, and criticism should not affect them.,” said Justice Minallah.

He stressed that the influence of social media should not affect judges. “As judges, we are public property, and truth reveals itself over time. We should question themselves about their direction and aspirations,” he added.

Justice Minallah stated that freedom of expression is a significant thing that should not be suppressed. “The states cannot control freedom of expression; different images were shown to the people of West Pakistan in 1971. Everyone knew the truth for 75 years, but it was suppressed, and we ended up suppressing the truth,” he added.

He highlighted that criticism on the judiciary falls into two categories: one is criticism when allegations are made that informed decisions are being made, and the other is criticism where he does not like why relief was granted.

Justice Minallah also stated that they need to learn from the past, adding that the solution lies in practising the constitution, and by adhering to it, we can become a great nation.

The SC judge said Pakistan would not have been split into two, if the oath was not transgressed. 

He said the states could not control the expression of opinion in the technological era. However, he said the reporters doing vlogging have an economic interest too therefore they should maintain balance in their comments. 

Justice Minallah said he did not consider himself worthy of telling a reporter what his ethics were. However, he advised the journalists that revealing the identity of a child or woman or misreporting something was a violation of the journalism’s ethics, he said adding that he learnt a great deal of journalism from court reporters.

“When the matter of 18th constitutional amendment was raised, many forces were against it. A reporter asked me, what will the Supreme Court do about the 18th Amendment? I replied ‘in my opinion, the SC should not interfere in the constitutional amendment',” he said.

The apex court judge said he had said he would resign if the 18th amendment was annulled and the next day news was published that “Athar Minallah has threatened the court”. 

Citing former Ugandan president and the modern world history's most brutal dictator, Idi Amin, Justice Minallah said, "A society is ruined, if someone gags freedom of expression like Idi Amin."

 

Reporter Amanat Gishkori