Defamation case of govt college principal, SC orders journalists to deposit Rs 0.5 million

ISLAMABAD, March 10 (SABAH): Supreme Court of Pakistan in defamation of government college principal case on Friday ordered four journalists Abbottabad-based local newspaper to deposit Rs 0.5 million [as a punishment].

The court assured to issue particular directions against the journalists if they didn’t deposit the amount. Two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial conducted hearing of the case.

The court declared that print media is a registered institution and not a social media which could hurl such accusations against the principal, stating the teachers in the society enjoy higher status.

Chief Justice remarked though journalists were respectable and enjoy right of expression but it is not their duty to tarnish honor of anyone.

Moreover, he stated the journalists could not prove their news against the principal in the court which is why now the solution was to apologize to the principal by offering an olive branch.

The court while directing the journalists to deposit the aforementioned amount adjourned the trial sine die. In 2005, after earthquake of Balakot, the journalists penned down news against principal being involved in corruption wherein the Sessions Court imposed a fine of Rs 2 million while High Court reduced it to Rs 1 million.