IHC refuses to place restraint on PM

Notes he will not make content of letter public

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday expressed the confidence that Prime Minister Imran Khan, as an elected representative, would not make the content of a secret letter public.

During his March 27 power show in Islamabad, the premier had displayed the letter, claiming it to be evidence of “foreign powers” behind the opposition’s no-confidence move to oust his government.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah in court order noted that it would not issue a restraining order to PM Imran to prevent him from going public with the document as it would “unjustifiably reflect lack of confidence in an elected prime minister”.

The court order read that the IHC was confident that as an elected prime minister, PM Imran would neither disclose any information or act in breach of section 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 nor violated the oath taken by him under Article 91(5) the Constitution.

“The court has trust and confidence that the worthy prime minister of Pakistan would not reveal any information which may be prejudicial to the national interest and national integrity of Pakistan nor that he would act in any manner that would have the effect of violating his oath,” it added.

"Any decision taken by the worthy Prime Minister has to be in consonance with his obligations under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and in letter and spirit of the oath of the office," he wrote in the order a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune.

The court, it read, has trust and confidence that the worthy prime minister would not reveal any information which may be prejudicial to the national interest and national integrity of Pakistan nor that he would act in any manner that would have the effect of violating his oath.

Meanwhile, the issue of a “threat letter” has landed in the Supreme Court.

Advocate Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta on Wednesday filed a petition in the top court seeking an inquiry into the letter.

The Federation of Pakistan through the Law and Justice Division secretary has been named as the respondent.

The petitioner contended that it was an extraordinary situation, which might cause a law and order situation to develop in the country by creating hatred against friendly countries.

He added that the situation required immediate steps to ease the "mental agony" of the common Pakistani.

"The gravity of the situation needs the attention of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take immediate step[s] to find out the truth about [the] subject matter," the petition read.

The petitioner asked the court to issue directions to the respondent to hand over the letter to the civil and military authorities concerned to investigate into the matter.