In its press release AEMEND said the IHC order against editor-in-chief of the Jang Media Group Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman and Ansar Abbasi and Aamir Ghouri of The News International was worrisome because the journalists only reported on an affidavit which existed and its was verified.

"The court order would have repercussion on press freedom and freedom of expression of journalists in Pakistan," read the press release, adding, the country "already has a bad repute in this regard according to the RSF Global Press Freedom Index Report of 2021."

It added: “Such reporting by the journalists is justified and legitimate since they had no ill-intentions behind reporting such proven news."

The association in the press release appealed to the "respected judges of the IHC to drop all charges of contempt against the media persons”.

In a statement issued by the PBA, it said: “Journalists discharge their responsibilities of informing the public with sincerity. PBA strongly believes that indicting the journalists for merely practising their journalistic and rightful duties towards the people of Pakistan, will have serious consequences on freedom of expression.

“PBA appeals to the honourable judges to kindly review their decision.”

Abbasi in his report gave reference to a notarized affidavit by former chief justice of Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim and said the ex-judge was a "witness to the then CJP Saqib Nisar’s direction to a high court judge not to release Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 general elections."

As the report surfaced, the IHC issued show cause notices to Abbasi and others. The court will indict them on Jan 7.