SC displeased over abusive language as Faizabad protest enters 18th day

ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Supreme Court Thursday took strong exception to the language being used by the leaders of protesters in an ongoing sit-in at Faizabad Interchange.

The protest camping entered 18th day Thursday.

Hearing a suo motu case regarding the sit-in initiated over government’s attempt to effect change in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat clause in Election Bill, the apex court blamed the government for not taking timely action to avert the protest.

Earlier, Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf submitted a report on behalf of the Interior and Defence ministries to apex court’s bench comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Musheer Alam.

The Attorney General said the government had engaged several religious scholars to hold talks with the protesters to amicably resolve the issue. Voicing displeasure over the report, the apex court said the media is far more updated than the details in the reports.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked the parties should have approached the courts over the issue and there is a Shariah Court also to resolve the matter. “This sit-in is setting a bad precedent as anyone can bring the city to a standstill to get their demands across,” he observed.

Justice Isa stressed Islam teaches to remove even a stone from someone’s way and directed the authorities to tell the court as to who are supporting the sit-in—both politically and financially.

Justice Qazi also took strong exception to the abusive language being used by the sit-in leaders, saying, “Convince me if this is an Islamic conversation by any standard.” “Bad language is being used even against the people who are no more alive,” he said adding Pemra is keeping mum with social media awash with the reports.

The bench directed the ministries to submit a comprehensive report by next Thursday. He wondered if the cities will be locked down if any other such issue crops up in the future. The court also demanded the report as to how much expenses the government has borne to place the containers on the roads.

The Attorney General said the government does not want spoil the situation in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal adding the protesters launch the demonstration during the Chehlum of Hazram Imam Hussain (R.A). Responding to a question, he told the court as many as 169 people have been arrested and 18 cases lodged, adding a child passed away mainly owing to the blockaded roads. Justice Isa said it is not an ordinary event that a child died as killing of a human being is tantamount to the killing of entire humanity.

On a query by Justice Isa regarding the government’s action plan, the AG replied, “We are taking measures, but some measures couldn’t be publicized.” Justice Isa also called upon the parliament, judiciary and Ulema to play their role in this regard. The judge said, “We live in an Islamic country. It seems that living in an Islamic country is becoming difficult for the Muslims.” Despite the prior information, the protesters were not stopped, the court said adding the court will not issue any decree in this regard.

“We will only interpret the law leaving it to the state and the administration. We will not do your job for you, because then you will be complaining about interference,” the judge said.

The protesters are demanding Federal Minister for Law Zahid Hamid to resign for his alleged role in altering the declaration of lawmakers with regard to Finality of the Prophet hood – a change which the government called a ‘clerical error’ and has already reversed.