SC seeks madrassas’ help in Mubarak Sani case

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, sought assistance from religious institutions on a petition filed by the Punjab government for the review of the Mubarak Ahmad Sani case judgment.

The Punjab government’s petition said that Article 20 of the Constitution was not fully explained in para 9 of the judgment, therefore, a wrong impression had prevailed. It added that religious freedom was not unlimited under Article 20.

“We also consider it appropriate to issue notices along with the copy of the order dated February 6, 2024 to the following institutions to seek their assistance with regard to the Injunctions of Islam,” said a court order issued after the hearing.

The notices were issued to Council of Islamic Ideology (CII); Jamia Darululoom, Karachi; Jamia Imdadia, Faisalabad; Jamia Naeemia, Karachi; Jamia Muhammadia Ghousia, Bhera; Jamia Salafia, Faisalabad; Jamiatul Multazir, Lahore; Jamia Urwat-ul-Wusqa, Lahore; Quran Academy, Lahore; and Al-Mawrid, Lahore.

“In case anyone else wants to submit a written opinion for the guidance of this Court they may also do so. All written opinions to be submitted within three weeks from today. To be fixed thereafter,” added the court order issued by the chief justice.

According to the order, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui filed an application on behalf of the Jamat-e-Islami Pakistan, stating that they might be arrayed as a party to these proceedings because the order dated 6 February 2024 passed by this court required review.

“Let all such applications be entertained by the office and put up alongwith this review petition on the next date of hearing,” the order said. “However, all others, including those who want to be arrayed as parties, may file their written opinions with regard to the said order to the extent only of the interpretation of Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and/or the Injunctions of Islam.”