Supreme Court takes notice of Islamabad sit-in, seeks response from government

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court took notice of the Islamabad sit-in on Tuesday and sought replies from the relevant government quarters.  

Hearing a separate case, the notice was taken by a divisonal bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam when government officials and counsels informed the bench of hurdles being faced by them due to the ongoing sit-in by religious parties in Islamabad. 

The court then sent notices to the secretaries of the interior and defence ministries, inspectors general of Punjab and Islamabad and the attorney general. 

The apex court has sought a detailed report on what measures were taken by the government to safeguard the rights of the public and adjourned the hearing until Thursday. 

In his remarks, Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked which Shariah (Islamic law) permits obstruction of people's routes and use of foul language.  

Lockdown — Day 16

The protest by religious parties that has brought the capital to a standstill entered its 16th day on Tuesday after various rounds of talks between the government and protesters ended in a stalemate.

Talks held on Saturday and then on Monday failed with no breakthrough in sight as protest leaders continue to demand the resignation of Federal Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid.

The government, however, has formed another committee under senior cleric Pir Haseenuddin Shah for negotiations with the protesters and to suggest a comprehensive solution to the problem.

Pir Haseenuddin meets govt officials 

On Tuesday, Pir Haseenuddin held a meeting with officials of the religious affairs minister regarding the administrative affairs of the committee, according to a spokesperson for the cleric. 

The ministry officials apprised the cleric of their point of view whereas the cleric has sought from the government more powers to make decisions. 

Pir Haseenuddin is the head of the Jamia Rizvia Zia-ul-Uloom seminary in Rawalpindi. 

Following a meeting of government representatives and protest leaders on Monday, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal again expressed hope for a peaceful resolution of the issue.

"We all agree that this issue should be resolved as soon as possible in a peaceful manner. Pakistan cannot be affected by any kind of bloodletting,' said the interior minister.

The meeting, after its conclusion also issued a joint statement, which stated that there is absolutely no room for error in the Khatam-e-Nabuwat clause and a committee, formed with PML-N leader Raja Zafar-ul-Haq in the chair, will identify those responsible for the mistake and the change in the oath.

Iqbal further said that the committee formed under Haq will expedite the report and present it once completed

He added that Khatam-e-Nabuwat is the basis of Islam and the wish of the government is to resolve the issue "in hours, not days'.

"For the sake of the Ummah, the religion, and the country, we have to peacefully resolve the sit-in."

On Sunday, the interior minister had said that all options are available for dispersing the Islamabad protest, adding that a security operation is the last option as the government will try to avoid bloodshed.

The Islamabad High Court had given the government until 10am, November 18 to remove the protesters blocking the Faizabad Interchange 'with force if need be' but the government did not do so and instead opted for negotiations to find a peaceful way out.

The religious parties have been protesting against the change in the finality of Prophethood oath in the law when the government passed the Elections Act 2017 last month. The change, dubbed a clerical error by the government, was immediately fixed as an amendment was passed later.

They also want responsibility fixed on other officials involved in the incident.

The protest has disrupted life in the capital and Rawalpindi, causing inconvenience as well as at least two reported casualties due to ambulances being unable to cross the protesters.