Radha Kishan killings: Protection against mob violence demanded for minorities
Gill said the Supreme Court had directed all provincial governments to provide protection to minorities in accordance with law. “The Kot Radha Kishan incident has proved that the provincial government has failed to provide protection to minorities,” he said.
After hearing the initial arguments, Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza directed the government to submit its reply at the next hearing.
Appointment of EC
On November 10, a writ petition was filed in Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry, challenging the nomination of retired judges for their appointment as chief election commissioner.
Barrister Zafarullah Khan filed the petition, stating that political parties were forwarding names of different retried judges of their choice for the appointment of chief election commissioner.
“Retired judges, being over-aged, cannot perform their duties well. Fakhruddin G Ibrahim, a retired judge, could not take important decisions during the previous elections. As a result, the matter of division of constituencies in Karachi is still pending,” he said.
Maryam Nawaz’s resignation
On November 14, the LHC disposed of a petition after the resignation of Maryam Nawaz Sharif from chairmanship of Prime Minster’s Youth Loan Programme (PMYLP).
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing the case. The judge welcomed the resignation and called it a step towards strengthening democracy.
On November 11, the court had asked the federal government to submit details of the mechanism for appointment of the PMYLP head.
She voluntarily tendered her resignation the next day.
A law officer representing the federal government told the judge that she had tendered her resignation and presented a copy of the document. The law officer said that the resignation would not disturb the working of the programme.
Justice Shah asked the government to fill the vacant post in accordance with the law.
Zubair Niazi, a local leader of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, had filed the petition.
Haidar, the movie
On November 12, Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza dismissed a petition, challenging the exhibition of an Indian film in Pakistan.
The court directed the petitioner to approach the censor board if he had any objection to the screening of the movie in Pakistan.
Iftikhar Ahmad had moved the petition, stating that the movie assailed the country’s ideology. “The events depicted in the movie are meant to defame the army,” he said.
Foreign visits
The LHC directed the federal government to submit a report about the expenses of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to New York, warning that a heavy fine would be imposed on the government if no response was submitted at the next hearing.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing the case. The federal government did not submit the detail of expenses incurred during the PM’s foreign visits. No official appeared in the court on behalf of the Foreign Ministry.
A law officer, who represented the federal government, told the court that the protocol officer of the PM had not submitted the details so far. “Is the entire system of the country being run by protocol officers? Is there no other department that keeps record of the expenses incurred during PM’s visit to New York?” the judge asked.
The judge warned the law officer to submit the details at the next hearing. Otherwise, he said, heavy fines would be imposed.
Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafri had filed the petition, objecting to prime minister and his entourage’s stay at expensive hotels and personal business development.
CM’s disqualification
The Lahore High Court dismissed a writ petition, seeking disqualification of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for his role in the Model Town violence.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah heard the case. A law officer, representing the government, told the judge that the petitioner had been absent ever since he filed the petition.
The law officer also said the CM had immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution, so that the petition was non-maintainable and should be dismissed.
Advocate Misbah Sarwar had filed the petition, submitting that the chief minister was involved in Model Town killings, and a judicial commission had declared him responsible for the deaths.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2014.
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