Justice Yahya Afridi
Chief Justice Afridi forcibly evicts media from press room, reporters protest breach of commitment
Chief Justice Afridi evicts media from the Supreme Court and the press room is forcibly cleared, a dark day unfolds for Pakistani journalism. Watch this video for breaking updates on what journalists are calling a black day for free speech and independent court reporters in Pakistan.
Today marks a dark development for freedom of expression as Chief Justice Yahya Afridi directed police authorities to forcibly evict the Press Association from inside the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The association’s media room had been housed inside the apex court building for the past 15 years, serving as a hub for transparent judicial reporting.
Under the Constitution of Pakistan, these are legally mandated as open courts meant for public access. However, media persons and legal journalists no longer have the same freedom to report. In this video, we break down the immediate fallout of this crackdown, why it violates constitutional principles, and look back at how these exact court reporters played a crucial role in the historic Lawyers’ Movement and the independence of the judiciary
Credit: Matiullah Jan MJtv
