Journalists Critical of Govt Got Dents From SC & NADRA

In recent developments, Supreme Court (SC) and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) inflicted dents on the journalists critical of the government. 

Earlier, SC dismissed the suo motu notice taken by Justice Qazi Faez Isa on an application regarding harassment of journalists.

However, a 5-member bench of the SC ruled on August 26 that only the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) could take suo motu notice on his discretion and shall do so if requested or recommended by a bench of the apex court.

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Thereby, the substantive claims made by the Press Association of the Supreme Court (PAS) would be placed in front of the chief justice for consideration, and acting CJP Umer Ata Bandial said there was no difference of opinion.

On the other hand, while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik said that forensic evidence referred to NADRA by Islamabad police in cases of journalists Absar Alam and Asad Toor were weak.

He added that the authority couldn’t yield any positive result from forensics.

The low quality forensic material such as fingerprints received on cards/papers, images, CCTV footage and videos – didn’t yield any positive result when matched with #NADRA records. 2/n

— Tariq Malik ™ (@ReplyTariq) August 26, 2021

He added that NADRA has no mandate related to geo-fencing and DNA testing as these subjects pertain to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA).

Responding to NADRA chairman, senior journalist Hamid Mir thanked him for showing his concern over the matter.

Thanks for the sympathy https://t.co/KENVnrSMg1

— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) August 26, 2021