Criticise Us or Praise Us, Media Is Free,’ Says IHC Chief Justice
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar has said the media is free to criticise or praise the judiciary, stressing that journalists should be able to perform their professional responsibilities freely.
The chief justice made the remarks during the inauguration of a new media centre at the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday.
Chief Justice Dogar and other judges of the high court attended the ceremony and formally inaugurated the facility established for journalists covering court proceedings.
Speaking to members of the media, the chief justice said judges and journalists both perform important responsibilities and should carry them out professionally.
He told journalists that they were free to criticise the judiciary as well as appreciate its work, underlining his view that the media should operate independently.
The chief justice also highlighted the relationship between the judiciary and journalists who regularly report on court proceedings.
The newly inaugurated media centre is intended to provide a dedicated working space for reporters covering the Islamabad High Court and facilitate their professional work within the court premises.
Court reporting plays an important role in communicating judicial proceedings and decisions to the public, particularly in cases involving constitutional, legal and public-interest matters.
The chief justice’s remarks also highlighted the broader issue of media freedom and responsible judicial reporting in Pakistan, where court proceedings frequently receive significant public and political attention.
The inauguration provides journalists covering the Islamabad High Court with a dedicated facility while the chief justice’s comments emphasise an open approach toward both criticism and positive coverage of the judiciary.
