News Analysis |
Islamabad High Court has issued a show cause notice to Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal with regards to the government’s failure to enforce the court’s orders for the dispersal of the Faizabad sit-in.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddique queried the chief commissioner over why the protestors had not yet been dispersed as per court orders to which the chief commissioner replied that the government had restrained relevant authorities from taking action.
The court ordered the interior minister to appear in person on November 27th.
The controversy arose when it was discovered that the Election Act 2017 had amended certain laws relating to the status of Ahmadis and the Form-A declaration.
The district attorney general (DAG) requested the court to withdraw the show-cause notice. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddique rejected this request and asked the DAG whether he was a servant of the interior minister or the federation.
The protestors have paralyzed the capital for the past 17 days by occupying Faizabad interchange, a key throughway between the cities. They have been demanding the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid over the purported attempt to change Khatam-e-Nabuwat laws.
The controversy arose when it was discovered that the Election Act 2017 had amended certain laws relating to the status of Ahmadis and the Form-A declaration.
A committee was formed under the leader of the House Senator Raja Zafar-ul-Haq to investigate this scandal and find the individuals responsible. The court has ordered the committee to submit its report which has yet to be made public.
The IHC had previously given a deadline of 23rd Nov for the dispersal of the protest but it was not implemented.
The apex court has raised the question of who was supporting these protestors who seem to be living rather comfortably in their camps along the Islamabad Expressway.
The court stated that the authorities had not been asked to use bullets to disperse the sit-in rather, batons and tear gas could effectively dislodge the protestors.
This reasoning was seconded by the Supreme Court which has also taken notice of the situation.
The apex court has raised the question of who was supporting these protestors who seem to be living rather comfortably in their camps along the Islamabad Expressway.
The citizens of Islamabad and Rawalpindi continue to face difficulties in their daily lives due to the sit-in. The Islamabad Capital Territory Police has issued a map of the traffic diversions created due to the occupation.