ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday submitted a report into the Faizabad sit-in to the Supreme Court of Pakistan two days after the apex court took suo-motu notice of the matter.
Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf submiited the response on behalf of the Interior and Defence ministries to a division bench of the apex court comprising Justice Qazi Faiz Esa and Justice Musheer Alam .
The court had sought detailed reports from the Defence and Interior Secretaries with regard to the sit-in that is being staged by a religious outfit.
The Attorney General told the court that the government got the religious scholars involved to hold talks with the protesters.
During the course of hearing, Justice Qazi Faiz Esa took an exception to protesters for using abusive language , and observed that arrogance and egotism are the worst forms of sin.
“Abuses are pouring out of every mouth. We too got worried, but do not use abusive language. We do not want bullets being fired on demonstrators,” he was quoted by TV channels as saying.
He said decisions are taken on streets when the state ceases to exist. “Will cities close again, if tomorrow another issue pops up,” he said.
The judge said public money was spent to place shipping containers on the roads, asking the government to inform the court for the sake of public transparency as to how much expenses it has borne to place the containers.
The Attorney General said the protesters started the sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange during the Chehlum of Hazram Imam Hussain (R.A).” We do not want bloodshed to happen,” he said.
Responding to a question, he told the court as many as 169 people have been arrested and 18 cases lodged by the authorities.
When Justice Qazi Faiz Esa asked whether the government had an action plan, the AG said, “We are taking measures, but some measures couldn’t be publicized”.
The judge said “we do live in an Islamic country, not in an ordinary one. It seems that living in an Islamic country is becoming difficult for the Muslims. “ Now told us what order shall we give?. It is the responsibility of the state and the administration. We will not do your job for you, because then you will be complaining about interference"