Faizabad sit-in case: SC rejects authorities report, seeks fresh one
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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court rejected reports, submitted by the authorities in a suo motu case on the sit-in staged by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) at Faizabad Interchange in 2017.
The reports were submitted by the agencies, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) before a two-member bench, headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
During course of proceedings, Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mehmood apprised the bench that AGP was not present as he had to attend court proceedings at Lahore and sought the adjournment.
The bench expressed annoyance over the absence of the Attorney General in the case and rejected state counsel's plea keeping in view the seriousness of the case.
Justice Isa remarked that peaceful protest is right of every citizen but violence will not be allowed.
He added “We should be told whether these people want to make Pakistan a working state as per the law or whther through street power."
Meanwhile, the bench took exception to officials expressing inability to outline tax details of TLP leaders. To this, the representative said it did not have the mandate required to furnish the details.
“What is its mandate?” asked Justice Isa and questioned was it not their duty to save the country?”
After highlighting discrepancies in the reports, the top court directed all departments to submit fresh ones in and adjourned further hearing of the case till November 22.
Last year in November, the court had taken suo motu notice of the sit-in staged by TLP leaders and activists at the Faizabad Interchange.
The three-week long sit-in, which had paralysed the federal capital, was called off on November 27 after protesters reached an agreement with the then government.
APP
