LHC seeks CII’s view on Covid campaign slogan

Court also asks federal govt to submit detailed reply

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court’s Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan has sought the opinion of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) over whether the words used in a slogan of a campaign about the coronavirus pandemic are correct.

CJ Khan directed the CII to ponder over the slogan, “Corona say darna nahi larna hay [not to be frightened of coronavirus, but to fight it]”, in its next meeting and then share its opinion with the president, prime minister and the court.

The chief justice also sought a detailed reply from the federal government in this regard.

CJ Qasim Khan was hearing a petition against the words used in the slogan being broadcast and published by the media.

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The petitioner made respondents the ministry of information and broadcasting, PEMRA, ministry for religious affairs, provincial government, IGP and others.

The CJ said during the proceedings that Pakistan had come into existence in the name of religion. He said that in the presence of God’s sovereignty, parliament’s power stood limited

The deputy attorney general said it would have to be ascertained which department had used the words under question.

The CJ remarked that the prime minister had used the words.

The federal government’s lawyer told the court that approval had not been taken from parliament in this regard. The chief justice asked how the prime minister was referring to the words if they had not been approved by parliament.

The petitioner had contended that no one could fight against the decisions of God. No one in the world could cope with the disease without the blessings of Allah, whether the virus was natural or someone had created it, the petitioner stated.

The petitioner sought orders to the law enforcement agencies to take concrete measures to cope with Covid-19.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2020.