SC reserves judgment in Fiazabad sit-in case
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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court reserved the verdict in a suo motu case pertaining to Faizabad sit-in staged by Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) in 2017 against controversial changes in lawmakers’ oath.
After going through the detailed arguments, a two-judge bench, comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Mushir Alam, reserved the verdict.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked that every one in the country is subservient to the Constitution and whoever defies it, would be a traitor under Article 5 and 6 of the Constitution.
He said that the Parliament’s supremacy and sovereignty was being continuously undermined adding that whether the country’s future will be determined by the Parliament or indigenous forces.
Meanwhile, on the matter of blocking transmission of a channel, the bench again expressed displeasure over the report submitted by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on the issue.
He remarked that if freedom of speech and expression cannot be ensured, then Article 19 and 19 (A) should be repealed from the Constitution adding that do not make a mockery of the state.
He said "I want to know about the force that decides which channels would be run and which will not be.
Subsequently, while directing the Attorney General to submit written response on the reports submitted by the agencies and PEMRA, the bench reserved judgment to announce it later.
Last year in November, the top 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 government.
APP
