News Desk |
A petition has been filed in Supreme Court seeking contempt of court against Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi and patron-in-chief Pir Afzal Qadri under the article 204 (2)(b) of the constitution of Pakistan.
Petitioner, Barrister (SC) Syed Masroor Shah (Advocate Supreme Court) has questioned the conduct of TLP leaders during their protest earlier in November against SC’s acquittal of Asia Bibi.
Mr. Shah said he had earlier filed one more petition, requesting the court to compel the government to deregister the TLP as a political party. As annunciated in section 212 of the election act 2017, the federal government has the power– that whenever it sees the political party working against the integrity of the state or is indulged in terrorism– to issue a notification and within 15 days refer the matter to SC.
TLP had announced the rally and has asked its followers to gather at Faizabad interchange to commemorate their Nov 25, 2017 sit-in; the protest that claimed many lives after the clash between law enforcement agencies and TLP protestors.
If the SC finds the reference affirmative, the party gets dissolved and their entire member parliament gets disqualified. Supreme Court returned the petition asking Mr. Shah to approach appropriate authority, Mr. Shah told GVS.
Another petition filed was for FIR against TLP leadership for mutiny as Mr. Shah claimed that the FIR lodged against TLP leadership by the government was for the damage to property but not against incitement of sedition.
In the current and third petition by Mr. Shah in SC, he hopes–as already court has sent politicians and public office holders to prison for speaking against court with far less intensity–that TLP leader will be brought to justice.
Read more: Crackdown on TLP continues: Is the end near?
The petitioner says it’s not about mere imprisonment of the accused/defenders but state confronting the no state actors with iron hands and disseminating the message that state institutes can’t be threatened and scandalized and writ of state can’t be challenged.
TLP’s Protest and Detention
TLP had staged a violent protest the country after the announcement of Asia Bibi’s acquittal. Asia, accused of blasphemy, was directed to be released by Supreme Court of Pakistan on October 31, 2018.
Protestors paralyzed the main cities and roads of the country, bringing the life to a standstill. They destroyed the public and state properties by setting them ablaze. TLP leaders criticized state institutions, demanding the resignation of PM and CJP, issuing fatwas against judiciary and military.
Petitioner, Barrister (SC) Syed Masroor Shah (Advocate Supreme Court) has questioned the conduct of TLP leaders during their protest earlier in November against SC’s acquittal of Asia Bibi.
Afzal Qadri while addressing to the protestors said that there should be a rebellion within the army against COAS and all generals of Qadiyani belief. He provoked the followers against the judiciary too.
The protestors blocked the roads, chanted slogans against state institutions and damaged everything they got their hands on. The protest ended with an agreement between government and TLP.
Later on, Khadim Hussain Rizvi along with other party leaders and supporter was detained on Nov 23, as they refused to call off the plan to stage a rally in Rawalpindi on Nov 25 according to the Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary.
Read more: Pakistan fights back: TLP’s Khadim Rizvi detained in crackdown
TLP had announced the rally and has asked its followers to gather at Faizabad interchange to commemorate their Nov 25, 2017 sit-in; the protest that claimed many lives after the clash between law enforcement agencies and TLP protestors.
Arrest of TLP Leaders Challenged
Meanwhile, the detention of TLP leadership has been challenged in Lahore High Court by a TLP member Syed Zafar Hussain Gillani through Advocate Nabeel Javed Kahloon. The petitioner has maintained that the arrest of TLP leader is unlawful and no FIR has been lodged against them.
The petitioner pleaded that Article 10 of the Constitution clearly stated that no person who was arrested should be detained without being informed about the grounds of arrest, nor should he be denied the right to consult a legal adviser.
Read more: Government signs an agreement with TLP: State surrender or political necessity?
He also expressed the apprehension that the authorities would torture the TLP leaders during their illegal detention.