Faizabad sit-in case: SC asks if 2014 sit-in leaders have apologised to nation

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Friday expressed dissatisfaction with reports furnished by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on the religio-political parties’ sit-in at Faizabad last year.

A two-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, resumed hearing of Faizabad sit-in suo motu case.

Justice Qazi Faiz Isa asked if the country will be run under the Constitution or through the street power.

He said a peaceful protest was right of every citizen but violence could not be allowed.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the reports, the court directed all the departments to submit them afresh.

The court also took exception to the absence of Attorney General for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan.

Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Sohail Mahmood informed the court that the AGP was in Lahore in connection with the cases being taken up Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar at the Lahore Registry.

He further told the court that the chief justice had directed him to go to Lahore in connection with some cases.

Justice Qazi Faiz Isa said, “We are also court and recalled that they had fixed the date on the desire of attorney general.

“Is it the choice of attorney general to come to court or not of his own will?” Justice Isa asked.

Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Sohail Mahmood sought adjournment in the matter due to absence of the attorney general.

Justice Isa asked as to who paid salary to the AG, Sohail Mahmood submitted that the AG drew his salary from the citizen’s tax deposit.

At this, Justice Isa said if his salary came from the citizens’ tax then he was answerable.

Justice Isa asked the deputy attorney general to take instructions from the government and then inform the court whether or not it wanted to pursue the instant matter.

On last date of hearing the court had questioned the registration of Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) as a political party and issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to submit a comprehensive report on its jurisdiction to take action against the political parties.

The court had also sought a report from the Pemra on suspension of transmission of two TV channels during the Faizabad sit-in held last year by Khadim Hussain Rizvi, chief of Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA).

On Friday, Justice Isa asked the Pemra Chairman Muhamad Saleem Beg as to what action he had taken against the cable operator for suspending transmission of TV channels during the Faizabad sit-in.

The chairman said the cable operator was fined Rs50,000 to which he observed that it was not mentioned in the report.

Beg’s reply agitated the judge, who told him that he was misusing his office.

The deputy attorney general too observed that the report contradicted his statement.

The judge asked Beg if anyone other than the authority also issued instructions to the electronic media.

The Pemra chief replied in the negative to which the judge said he was the Pemra chief but he didn’t even know that secret instructions were being received. The judge then referred to a sit-in staged in the Islamabad Red Zone in 2014 demanding constitutions of a judicial panel to investigate rigging in the 2013 elections.

“The commission gave its report stating that the 2013 polls were in large part organised and conducted fairly and in accordance with the law,” said the judge and asked, if the sit-in leaders had apologised to the nation after the judicial commission’s report.