Panamagate case and electronic media

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa during a recent hearing of the Panama Papers case urged political parties that instead of fighting it out on the media, they should wait for the court’s verdict in the case, adding that a lot has already been done on the roads. These days a five-judge larger bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa is hearing Panamagate case on daily basis with Justice Ejaz Afzal, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan as its other members. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Awami Muslim League are presenting arguments against family members of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on the offshore companies revealed by Panama Papers. But after presenting arguments in the court, representatives of contesting political parties after each hearing talk with media persons outside the Supreme Court. Representatives of federal government and other opposition political parties try their best to convince the masses that there case is strong and they were the ones to present the stronger arguments in court. It creates a bizarre situation and it seems that at the same time two cases are being heard; one inside the Supreme Court and other outside of the court.
Some people have even suggested that orders should be issued for banning television talk shows and news discussions regarding Panama Leaks case. Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz can both be seen on television screens throughout the day claiming success in the hearing. The press talks are devoid of even basic ethics as allegations are hurled and often below the belt remarks are made. The purpose of this media circus is hard to understand. The ruling party has over the past couple of years blamed Imran Khan for introducing ‘unsuitable’ langauge in press talks. It is strange to see that the very party now indulging in the same. The mudslinging competition in the media is harming the image of both parties and is establishing a bad precedent.