Summary Deputy attorney general submitted the reports of defence and interior ministries in the case.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Supreme Court on Thursday has summoned the officers of intelligence agencies in reference to the suo moto notice taken over the sit-in being staged by Sunni Tehreek and Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah at Faizabad Interchange.
While expressing dissatisfaction over the reports of intelligence agencies, Justice Musheer Alam said that nothing significant has been stated in them as only four names have been written. The court directed to re-submit the reports till next Thursday.
The judge stated that a hefty amount is spent on the intelligence agencies but their role in the current crisis is nowhere to be seen.
During the hearing, deputy attorney general submitted the reports of defence and interior ministries in the case. The move came after SC took a suo moto notice over the sit-in and issued notices to defence secretary, interior secretary, attorney general and advocate generals of Islamabad and Punjab on Monday.
Justice Musheer Alam remarked that Punjab government was aware of the entire situation as said in reports however; they did not take any measures against the sit-in.
Justice Qazi Faiz Isa maintained that government and protesters are missing out the basic point. “Pakistan was formed over an argument whereas convincing others forcefully does not set a good precedent,” he said.
“There is no repression in religion. Our conflicts have made a way for enemies to enter in the country and kill people,” he added.
Justice Qazi said that people are suffering for several days because of the sit-in but the government is not ready to talk over the closed routes.
“Who is being benefitted from the protests. Who is provinding the protesters food and electricity?” he asked. “The cities will be taken hostage again if another problem arises. Have the courts been shut down in the country?” the judge inquired.
Expressing resentment over the language used by the religious leaders, he said that it is not reflective of Islam. He also reprimanded the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and said that why the sit-in is being provided immense coverage.
A five-member arbitration committee of ulema was formed on Wednesday to negotiate between the government and the protesters.
Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Pir Hussain-ud-Din led committee will devise proper suggestions to end sit-in.
The other members also include Dr Sajid-ur-Rehman, Pir Zia-ud-Din Shah, Moulana Abdul Sattar Syedi, Ghulam Nizam-ud-Din Shah Jami and Syed Habib-ul-Haq Shah.
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.
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.
