Media boycott announced over supreme court press room eviction notice

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th May, 2026) The Press Association of the Supreme Court (PAS) has announced a complete media boycott of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), declaring the notice issued by the bar body to vacate the press room within seven days as illegal, an attack on freedom of expression, and an attempt to restrict media access to the apex court.

The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of PAS’s general body held on Wednesday at the Supreme Court press room, where members reviewed in detail the notice issued on May 12.

Through a unanimously adopted resolution, the meeting stated that beat reporters covering parliament, superior courts and other constitutional institutions are provided free access and office facilities to ensure the public’s constitutional right to information.

The resolution said the press room established in the Supreme Court for decades was not a favor to journalists, but a recognition of the role of court reporters and the status of PAS as a stakeholder. It added that attempts to abolish the facility were tantamount to curtailing fundamental rights.

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Participants of the meeting maintained that decisions regarding rooms located within the premises of the Supreme Court did not fall under the jurisdiction of the SCBA. Therefore, the notice issued by the bar association was termed illegal and an interference in the administrative authority of the Supreme Court.

The general body warned the SCBA against taking any unlawful action in this regard.

The meeting also highlighted the historic role played by court reporters during the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of the judiciary. It was noted that the press room had originally been allotted by a former Chief Justice of Pakistan.

The PAS general body expressed complete confidence in the assurances given by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi.

PAS further announced that any attempt to vacate the press room would be resisted and that the association would continue to defend the media’s right to free access to courts at every level.