5 Important Takeaways From The Supreme Court Verdict On Faizabad Sit-in

Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued another remarkable judgment, this time on the Faizabad Sit-in of 2017. The verdict given by Justice Qazi Faez Isa highlighted follies committed by PEMRA, ECP, different political parties, armed forces, and intelligence agencies when violent protests were staged by Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Pakistan (TLP) against the sitting government.

Here are the five most important takeaways from the SC verdict on Faizabad Sit-in!

1. “Free Publicity” Given To TLP

Justice Isa in his verdict on Faizabad Sit-in strongly criticized media for covering abusive and provocative speeches given by the TLP leaders, TV show hosts for hyping up the issue and political parties with self-serving agendas for providing soft support to the protestors.

Consequently, these actors ended up giving free publicity to TLP that was not a known name when the protests first started. 

2. PEMRA’s Failures!

PEMRA found itself at the receiving end of Justice’s wrath on Wednesday for more than one reason. First being that the body didn’t take any action against private channels for violating terms of the license issued by PEMRA by supporting sit-ins that called for violence. 

Moreover, PEMRA also failed in upholding the rights of the licensed broadcasters like Geo and Dawn that were stopped in certain parts of the country. Despite several complaints, PEMRA didn’t do anything about the interruption of these broadcasts.    

3. ECP’s Irresponsible Behavior!

The verdict on Faizabad Sit-in said, “Article 17(3) of the Constitution requires political parties to account for the source of their funds and Section 211 of the Elections Act, 2017 demands that details of election expenses be provided.”

However, ECP confirmed that no such account was submitted to the commission by TLP and more disturbing is the fact that the ECP didn’t do anything to ensure TLP’s compliance to the task, citing the law’s cosmetic nature as the reason.

The Justice, thus, schooled the ECP for not fulfilling its constitutional obligations! 

4. Politicking By Armed Forces Discouraged!

Justice Isa also took notice of the cash handed out by men in uniform at the disperse of the dharna and DG ISPR’s political statements. He raised remarks in the verdict that any manipulation or politicking by armed forces or related agencies only undermines the integrity of the armed forces and so, refrain should be practiced in this regard.   

5. Upholding The Fundamental Right Of Freedom Of Speech!

Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) alleged that journalists and editors had been pressurized to practice self-censor from certain sources. The verdict emphasized that no government or institution has the right to infringe on anyone’s freedom of speech. 

“Those who resort to such tactics under the mistaken belief that they serve some higher goal delude themselves,” said the verdict.