ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday said that no ban has been placed on speeches of former PM Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and other lawmakers by the Lahore High Court (LHC).
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar was hearing the suo moto contempt of court case against Nawaz, daughter Maryam and several other lawmakers.
The apex court said that the facts have been “twisted” and that the LHC never ordered to place a ban on Nawaz and Maryam’s speeches.
“The LHC ordered PEMRA to counter anti-judiciary speeches and hear contempt petitions. No direction to ban Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and others’ speeches from airing was given,” the SC bench said.
It was added that “the reports published in newspapers are false and fabricated and such reports aim to defame judiciary.”
During the hearing, PEMRA’s counsel Salman Akram Raja was criticised for representing the authority as well as the PML-N leaders in various cases before the apex court. “Don’t you think you representing the two parties could lead to a clash of interests?” the apex court questioned.
Raja issued an apology after the court warned of cancelling his licence.
