SC takes suo moto notice of Faizabad sit-in
The suo moto notice was taken over lawyer's adjournment motion plea in some case.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Taking suo moto notice of sit-in being staged by Sunni Tehreek and Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah at Faizabad Interchange, Supreme Court (SC) issued notices to defence secretary, interior secretary, attorney general and advocate generals of Islamabad and Punjab.
During the proceeding, Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked what steps have been taken by the local administration regarding protection of the citizens’ rights as Article 14 allows every local to move freely in the country.
The judge also directed the concerning secretaries to submit a detailed report in this regard by November 23.
On Monday, Islamabad High Court (IHC) had issued contempt of court notices to the interior secretary, chief commissioner, deputy commissioner and Islamabad inspector general, and gave a 48-hour deadline to Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal to end the Faizabad sit-in.
The IHC also turned down the federation’s request to conduct the hearing inside the judge’s chamber and remarked that those times have gone when proceedings and reports were kept secret. The court said everything will be done by keeping the nation in confidence.
Meanwhile, the government had also agreed to make recommendations of Raja Zafarul Haq committee public regarding the deadlock between rightist protesters and the government in Islamabad.
On the other hand, heavy contingent of Rangers, Frontier Corps and police are deployed in the area whereas armored vehicles, prison vans and ambulances are also present. Administration of the twin cities had earlier delayed decision to use force against protesters after fourth round of talks ended at residence of Raja Zafarul Haq last night.
Moreover, mobile services in I-8 and Faizabad remain suspended creating problems for the people. Till date, police has registered at least 17 cases against the protesters including assault on security personnel.
The protesting bodies have vowed to continue the sit-in protest until law minister Zahid Hamid tenders his resignation for a ‘clerical mistake’ in amendment that was brought to Elections Act 2017.
In the then revised form-A of nomination papers, the words “I solemnly swear” were replaced with “I believe” and the clause relating to Khatm-i-Naboowat was made applicable to non-Muslim candidates.
However, the change was branded a clerical mistake by National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and the government had vowed immediate rectification of the alleged mistake.
The Senate had approved reversal of the changes made earlier.
Nonetheless, the protesters who camped in the outskirts of Islamabad and at Faizabad M2 interchange late October are adamant for the law minister to resign.
