ISLAMABAD   -  The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Friday sought report from the interior secretary and PEMRA chairman in a writ petition, challenging the armed operation against the protestors of banned Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP).

A single bench of IHC, comprising Justice Aamer Farooq conducted hearing of the petition moved by Shohada Foundation of Pakistan through its Trustee Hafiz Ihtesham Ahmed.

Through the petition, the petitioner sought direction to respondents to refrain from using of the force against the procession, carried out by the TLP and also to appoint judicial commission to probe into the brutalities by the law enforcing agencies.

During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner contended that members of TLP are carrying out peaceful processions however, due to unnecessary force used against them, deaths have occurred. It was contended that under the law, it is the lawful duty of the federal government to pay ‘Diyyat’/ compensation for unlawful deaths caused by it.

The counsel also pointed out that there is media blackout with respect to the procession on the orders of respondent PEMRA chairman.

After hearing the arguments, the court noted in its order, “Let report be requisitioned from respondents No.1 & 4 and notice be also issued to refer respondents for 02.11.2021.”

Then, the court deferred the hearing till November 2 for further proceedings in this matter.

In this matter, the petitioner filed the petition through the counsel   and cited federation through ministry of interior secretary, prime minister through its principal secretary, Federal Interior Minister   Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, and Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) through its chairman as respondents.

He stated that this petition is moved by the necessity for an interpretation and application of Article 245 in the specific circumstances of operation against TLP, killing over 27 persons brutally, in the light of judgment of this court. He added that the petition is motivated by the conviction that the fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan as embodied in Articles 2-A, 4, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 22 have been grossly violated by the respondents.

The petitioner requested the court to direct the competent authority to take disciplinary action against respondent No 4, who failed to perform his duty by censoring the event unlawfully and directing the TV channels to give unilateral information against the TLP followers, concealing their death toll and giving false information about the deaths of police officials in favour of the government, and failing to decide the matter earliest possible to save the lives of innocent citizens.

He also requested to direct the respondents’ No. 1 to 3 to quash the FIRs against the arrested persons in an unlawful manner.