Plea to install machines to detect politicians’ lies

The LHC postponed till June 23 the hearing of a petition seeking installation of lie detectors to expose politicians' lies.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday postponed till June 23 the hearing of a petition seeking installation of lie detectors throughout the country to expose politicians’ lies.

The adjournment was requested by counsel for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, whose permanent disqualification is also demanded in the petition.

The petitioner wants all Pakistani politicians to bring back assets they own in foreign countries.

The court had earlier directed the federal government to prepare a feasibility report and allocate special funds for purchasing ‘lie detectors’ for quick investigation and resolution of cases.

The petition has been moved by Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffery. He made politicians and lawyers, including former president Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari, Federal Law Minister Babar Awan, Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, Wasim Sajjad and Sharifuddin Pirzada parties to his petition and accused them of charging exorbitant fees for influencing judges. The petitioner said that they all should be fully taxed and penalties be imposed for tax evasion.

The petition also demands registration of FIRs against former president General (retired) Pervez Musharraf and former prime minister Shaukat Aziz for allegedly looting national wealth.

He has also requested the court to direct the Federal Board of Revenue and all anti-corruption departments to acquire lie detectors, as respondents always lie in spite of swearing by the Holy Quran.

Jaffery has also sought directions to utilise the building of Punjab Governor House for establishing a non-profit international university.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2010.