IHC rejects govt plea for ban on political talk with prisoners

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC), rejecting a government plea for an immediate ban on political conversation during meetings with prisoners in jail, has issued notices on an intra-court appeal.

The court took up an appeal plea filed by the Chief Commissioner (CC) Islamabad against a court decision of nullifying restrictions imposed on political conversation during meetings with prisoners in jail.

The court while rejecting the plea for suspending the decision of Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan forthwith issued notice to Sher Afzal Marwat and sought reply in next week. The Advocate General (AG) Islamabad told the single bench decision on nullifying Section 265 of jail rules by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan has been challenged. The IHC has no powers of jurisdiction in this regard, he argued. CJ IHC Aamer Farooq inquired if a notice was issued to the attorney general or advocate general.

Advocate General Ayyaz Shaukat replied he had been summoned but formally no 27 A notice was issued. “It is our request to suspend the single bench decision,” he added.

Issuing notice to the attorney general or advocate general is a must for declaring any law null and void, the CJ observed and adjourned the hearing of the case until next week.—Online