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Contempt of court: Pak TV channel
tenders apology
BY A CORRESPONDENT
March 9, 2007
The Geo TV network of Pakistan has
tendered an unconditional apology
before a full bench of the Lahore High
Court, Pakistan, in a contempt of
court case.
The proceedings had been initiated
against the channel for telecasting a
programme in which a High Court
official was shown taking bribe.
The court described the programme as
an attempt to “lower the dignity of
the courts.”
Mir Shakilur Rehman, chairman of the
Geo TV network, stated before the
bench that information relating to
courts shown in the programme was
incorrect. Though the facts could have
been verified before airing the
programme, yet regrettably no such
verification was done, Mir Shakilur
Rehman admitted.
He further said the television channel
never intended to cast any aspersion
on the court and, if at all any such
impression had been created, the same
was sincerely regretted.
The full bench observed that the
information should have been verified
before being telecast. The bench asked
Mir Shakilur Rehman to be careful in
the future.
The Lahore High Court, after
considering the apology, ordered that,
to demonstrate the bona fide and
sincerity of what had been stated
before the court, the respondent
channel show regret/apology daily at
appropriate timings till the next
hearing on March 12, 2007.
The Lahore High Court also ordered the
Geo TV network publish the
apology/regret on the front pages of
the dailies Jang and The News till the
next hearing on March 12.
The court exempted Mir Shakilur Rehman
from personal appearance at the next
hearing, but refused to exempt his son
Mir Ibrahim from the same.
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