SHAHID ALI vs STATE — 2026 PLD 126 SUPREME-COURT

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SHAHID ALI VS STATE. Art. 10-A---Right to fair trial---Media trial---Pendency of proceedings---Reporting of a crime---Effect---News regarding a crime is always of interest to people, particularly when case is of high profile or nature of crime is of interest to general public---Unusual interest of public leads to a media trial and consequences can be irretrievable, not only for accused but victims as well---Public interest may also be harmed by preventing actual perpetrators of crime from being held to account and instead facilitating conviction of an innocent person on the basis of a perceived imputation of guilt---Such phenomenon and its adverse consequences becomes more important in sensitive cases when it is an unseen occurrence and victim is a child---Media has enormous power and ability to create narratives which may be true or false---Media can cause irretrievable damage to reputations by ruining lives of accused and their family members---Media has unique power to make heroes or villains, intentionally or unintentionally and such powers are susceptible to be abused in a society where State suppresses freedom of expression and manipulates media---Greater responsibility rests with media to strictly observe high standards of ethical codes in order to strike balance between rights of parties involved in criminal proceedings and public interest i.e. what information should be disseminated to general public---Bedrock of criminal justice system is to ensure in each case the right to a fair trial---Fundamental principle of right to fair trial is presumption of innocence; every accused is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty by a competent Court and by observing safeguards and requirements in the context of a fair trial.

SHAHID ALI vs STATE — 2026 PLD 126 SUPREME-COURT

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