ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP):Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday gave final opportunity to the respondents to submit the report of Senator Raja Zafarul Haq-led Committee till February 20, warning that in case of failure contempt proceedings would be initiated.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui while hearing the case in connection with sit-in of religious parties at Faizabad Interchange expressed annoyance over the concerned quarters for not providing the report.
Justice Siddiqui remarked that “I failed to understand that why order passed by this Court is being frustrated by avoiding submission of report of the committee headed by Senator Raja Zafar ul Hag, with Ahsan lqbal, Interior Minister and Mushahid Ullah Khan, Senator its members.”
During the course of proceedings, Deputy Attorney General Arshad Kiyani apprised the court that Ahsan lqbal, Interior Minister was out of country and report had not been finalized to submit.
DAG prayed the bench for 15 days time for submission of the report and para wise comments on the plea.
Justice Siddiqui remarked that respondents had already availed sufficient time in playing game of hide and seek with the court, therefore, let this matter be adjourned till February 20 with final opportunity to the government to submit the report, otherwise this Court shall issue contempt notices to all the responsible and may also consider issuance of notice to the Chief Executive.
Meanwhile, Report on behalf of Lt Gen (R) Zamir ul Hassan, Secretary Ministry of Defence had been submitted, who was also present in person. Repot on behalf of D.G Intelligence Bureau had also been submitted.
On previous hearing Justice Siddiqui remarked that “We will not allow the matter to be brushed under the carpet,”.
It may added that IHC declared the agreement between the government and Faizabad protesters unconstitutional and illegal, saying that the protesters committed blasphemy and the state surrendered before them. Moreover agreement did not has any legal standing.
On November 6, 2017 workers of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and activists of other religious groups camped at the Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad against the hastily-abandoned change in the oath of elected representatives, virtually paralysing the twin cities for more than two weeks.
Police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel had launched an operation against the protesters after the high court had ordered the clearance of the bridge that connects the federal capital with Rawalpindi. The same day, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had advised Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to “handle the Islamabad dharna peacefully”.