PHC restrains inclusion of PTI leaders in 4th Schedule

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Friday restrained the provincial government from taking action against several former lawmakers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as per Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

Justice Waqar Ahmed heard the petitions, filed by former speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser and former lawmakers including Amjad Ali, Gul Zafar, Iftikhar Mashwani, Mian Sharafat Ali, Abdul Salam, Zahir Shah Toru, and Fazal Hakeem. The petitioners’ lawyer Syed Sikandar Hayat Shah stated that the petitioners were former members of the legislature and had participated in law-making during their tenure.

“However, now the provincial government is trying to include their names in the Fourth Schedule, through the recommendation of the District Intelligence Coordination Committees,” he added.

He said that the Fourth Schedule has the names of those involved in terrorism or who had been members of banned organisations.The court directed the provincial government to submit a reply by January 23, restraining any action against the petitioners in the meantime.