Petitioner brings Fazal’s ‘hate speech’ to court’s notice

Seeking a case of sedition against the JUI-F chief

LAHORE: A civil miscellaneous (CM) petition was filed at the Lahore High Court, asking that alleged hate speech of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) Chief Moulana Fazalur Rehman be made part of the main petition which is seeking a case of sedition against him.

The petitioner requested that the transcripts of speeches delivered by the JUI-F chief be placed on record as it was necessary for the adjudication of the main petition. He argued that this petition is being filed as Pro-Bono-publico (public interest) for the enforcement of fundamental rights of billions of Pakistani citizens.

He told the court that Article 5 (1) of the Constitution has mandated that loyalty to the state is the duty of every citizen, but the Moulana is delivering provocative and hate-filled speeches against the government for political mileage.

He contended that the JUI-F chief, in his speech, declared war against the government and threatened to turn the entire country into a warzone. He implored that his political party has established a private uniformed army that is armed with sticks wrapped in barbwires. “The JUI-F also enjoys a guard of honour from that force.”

He said that religion is one of the sensitive issues, but JUI-F leaders projected Fazal as the defender of the Muslim faith, thus provoking religious sentiments and stoking flames of hatred.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2019.