ISLAMABAD: Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court (IHC)lashed out at the military on Wednesday, questioning its “involvement” incommercial activities.

He was hearing a petition demanding to make the Faizabad sit-in inquiryreport public.

Justice Siddiqui remarked: “No army in the world is involved in commercialactivities but ours is selling even cement, meat and bread.” He said thatthe court would issue a notice to defence secretary to know about thestance of the ministry over the issue.

“They want to earn as per a commercial model but want to be dealt with likean armed force,” he said. Justice Siddiqui went on to say that people havebeen made mental, economic and moral slaves.

The court issued a notice to the attorney general, seeking a reply on theissue.

The petitioner, through his counsel, contended that they had approached theregistrar office for access to the report but the plea was denied. JusticeSiddiqui replied on a lighter note, saying that he was already facing sixreferences against him and it seemed that the petitioner wanted Siddiqui toface the seventh one.

“The report has been sealed as per a court order,” he told the lawyer.