Showing Imran Khan live is not a violation of any law, Justice Minallah says in NAB case

Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah has issued a dissenting note in the matter of a request for live broadcasting of proceedings in the case against declaring NAB amendments null and void.

the request for live broadcasting of the proceedings of the case is approved, the note stated, adding that live broadcast is necessary to protect fundamental rights.

The hearing of the NAB amendment case on October 31, 2023 and May 14 this year was broadcast live, the 13-page note stated.

The PTI founder is the head of the country's largest political party and showing the PTI founder live is not a violation of any law, Justice Athar Minallah wrote, adding the constitution gives the people the right to access information.

The apex court judge referred to the right conferred by Article 19-A of the Constitution, saying: “It is operative and justiciable.  Cases heard by this Court on its original jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, including review petitions and other matters arising therein, are matters of public importance within the meaning and scope of that expression used in Article 19-A of the Constitution."

Earlier, the top court issued a detailed order on the plea and explained its decision to not live-stream the proceedings of NAB amendments case, stating that these hearings may be used for “political purposes and point scoring”.

The top court judge, in his 13-page long dissenting note released, noted the Supreme Court had declared access of the public to the court proceedings in all cases in matters of public importance through live streaming as a recognised fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19-A of the Constitution.