How this country is being run: Justice Isa

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday questioned as to how the country was being run, as the concerned authorities failed to submit fresh report on Faizabad sit-in.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa resumed hearing into a suo motu of Faizabad sit-in staged last year by Khadim Hussain Rizvi, chief of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) who had paralysed the twin cities of Rawalpindi-Islamabad for over two weeks.

Earlier, during the outset of hearing, Justice Qazi Faez Isa observed that a security agency even does not know the sources of income and bank accounts of Khadim Hussain Rizvi, adding that it is also not aware that the dharna had destroyed billions of rupees public properties.

He asked Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mahmood if the agencies have a report to submit. The law officer however, replied that no such report has been furnished because the court had not passed any orders in this regard.

Justice Isa, however, said that the security agencies should have submitted a new report when the court had expressed its dissatisfaction over the previous report on the same issue. “We asked you on the last date of hearing about the source of income of Khadim Hussain Rizvi, his income tax record as well”, Justice Isa asked directing the defence ministry official as to whether he knows about the bank accounts of the cleric.

What is the source of income of Rizvi, Justice Isa asked at which the official said that he is Khateeb and mostly payment is made to the Khtateebs of mosques. "But who pays, the hidden force,” Justice Isa questioned, adding as to whether the official knows the bank accounts of Rizvi.

“Maybe they can be the agents of our enemies,” Justice Isa observed. He further observed that the state supports the oppressed class but not the oppressors. We don’t have the right to exist if we are not with the Mazlooms”, Justice Isa remarked.

The judge said that Quaid-i-Azam was surrounded by political leaders who wanted to create Pakistan, he was not helped by any establishment. “We are not scared of enemies but scared of people within the country,” Justice Isa added.

The court further noted that Pemra report regarding action taken by the council of complaints shows that it is only censure and warning has been issued to the channels that aired transmission of Dharna in violation of law.

The court, however, while noting down its order also directed to ensure that transmission of two news channels are not blocked and the authorities concerned should ensure protection of right of people in access to information and protection of basic provisions of constitution regarding freedom of expression.

The court directed Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mahmmod to ensure that transmission of the channels is available allover Pakistan to the citizens.

The court was informed that process of appointment of Pemra chairman is in progress at which the court directed to appoint the chairman. The court also directed that Secretary Ministry of Defence should appear before it along with Attorney General on the next date of hearing and adjourned further proceedings for 10 days.