Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq on Monday issued notices to former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, ex-spymaster Faiz Hamid and two journalists in response to a petition seeking legal proceedings for allegedly flouting the Official Secrets Act.
In the petition, Atif Ali — a concerned citizen — sought the registration of a case against the journalists and the former generals over news reports regarding the ex-military officers’ role in politics. The DG of the FIA was also put on notice. Justice Farooq heard the petition on October 4, but the court order was released on Monday.
It requested the court to issue directions to the Federal Investigation Agency director general (FIA) to register an FIR against the former COAS, former ISI chief, and the journalists. Besides, it also sought directions from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ban the two journalists.
Plea seeks proceedings against ex-general journalists over violation of secrets law.
Initially, in March this year, the registrar’s office of the IHC said that the high court was not an appropriate forum and asked the petitioner to approach the relevant authorities. When the chief justice heard the petition, he asked the FIA DG to proceed by the law. However, during the hearing, the petitioner informed the court that the investigation agency did not take any action.
Subsequently, Justice Farooq issued notices to all respondents, including Gen Bajwa, ex-ISI DG, journalists Chaudhry and Maitla, and the FIA.
