Lahore High Court summons PM Anwarul Haq Kakar
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The Lahore High Court (LHC) has taken a significant step by summoning the Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq and the caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi in a case concerning the dissemination of blasphemous content on social media. This development, places a spotlight on the growing concerns over online content and its compliance with existing laws. Presiding over the case, LHC judge Justice Shujaat Ali Khan expressed his dissatisfaction with the federal government's inaction, highlighting an eight-month delay in submitting a report.
Justice Shujaat Ali Khan's observations during the proceedings raised questions about the level of attention the matter had received at the highest levels of government. It was suggested that the issue might not have been adequately presented before the prime minister, adding an element of doubt regarding the government's commitment to addressing this sensitive issue.
Consequently, the court took decisive action, ordering both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister to personally appear and provide explanations regarding their stance on the matter.
At the heart of this case lies a legal framework established in 2019, requiring that every translation of the Quran undergoes approval by a designated board before publication. However, the case filed in 2022 alleges that the necessary permissions were not obtained for the publication of an altered translation of the Quran.
This raises intricate legal questions surrounding religious texts, freedom of speech, and the role of regulatory bodies in monitoring and approving such publications. The outcome of this case is bound to have far-reaching implications for both legal interpretations and religious sensitivities in Pakistan.
