The Islamabad High Court (IHC) is set to conduct a hearing on Tuesday, November 28, regarding a plea filed against former army chief Gen (rtd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, ex-spymaster Lt Gen (rtd) Faiz Hameed, and two journalists, Javed Chaudhry and Shahid Maitla. The case revolves around allegations of flouting the Official Secrets Act.
The matter came to light on October 9 when IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued notices to the former military officials, the journalists, and the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in response to a petition filed by concerned citizen Atif Ali. The petitioner sought legal action against the individuals involved, contending that news reports about the ex-military officers’ role in politics, especially an interview with Gen Bajwa, violated the Official Secrets Act.
Atif Ali argued that the interview was conducted recklessly, lacking a sense of responsibility, and the revelations made therein were tantamount to inciting mutiny and disharmony. The petitioner urged the court to direct the DG FIA to register an FIR against Gen Bajwa, ex-ISI DG, and the journalists. Additionally, the plea sought directions from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to impose a ban on the two journalists.
Initially, the IHC registrar’s office raised objections, suggesting that the high court was not the appropriate forum for the case. However, during the hearing, Chief Justice Farooq instructed the DG FIA to proceed according to the law. The petitioner later informed the court that no action had been taken by the investigation agency.
The plea claims that the authors of the news articles distorted facts to boost viewership and raised questions about the conduct of military authorities, prompting the need for an investigation into the matter. Gen Bajwa reportedly discussed various issues, including the no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, civil-military relations, and other matters in interviews with the journalists.
As the case unfolds, it puts the spotlight on the delicate balance between freedom of the press and national security concerns, with the IHC expected to play a pivotal role in determining the legal implications of the allegations.
