Minorities rights case: Supreme Court issues notice to AGP

Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mahmood will appear on behalf of the AGP tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday the case on the non-implementation of its June 19 landmark judgement regarding protection of minorities’ rights.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk will hear the case.

A notice in this regard has been issued to the attorney general of Pakistan and Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mahmood will appear on behalf of the AGP at the hearing tomorrow.

The apex court on November 7 sent reminders to the prime minister, provincial chief ministers and chief secretaries, law ministry, establishment division, IGPs and others to submit their reports regarding measures taken for the implementation of its order. However, no report has been received as yet, a court official said.

Earlier, the office of the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) had also dispatched letters to various ministries, seeking progress reports regarding measures they have taken for the implementation of the June 19 verdict. “Since the matter is likely to be fixed [for hearing] in the near future, representatives of ministries should send their reports immediately,” read the AGP’s letter.

Former chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani had initiated suo motu proceedings earlier this year after receiving a letter from the Justice Helpline regarding a suicide bombing at Peshawar’s All Saints Church – an incident in which 81 Christians were killed.

Announcing a landmark judgment on minorities’ rights, the Supreme Court had asked the government to constitute a national council for minorities’ rights and to form a special task force for the protection of places of worship of minority communities.

“A special police force be established with professional training to protect the places of worship of minorities,” said the 32-page judgment, authored by Justice Jillani. In all cases of violation of any of the rights guaranteed under law or desecration of the places of worship of minorities, the law enforcement agencies should promptly take action and criminal cases be registered against the offenders, the judgment reads.

Moreover, the apex court had also asked to develop appropriate curricula at school and college levels to promote religious tolerance in the country. It had also asked to take appropriate steps to ensure that hate speeches in social media are discouraged and the delinquents are brought to justice under the law.

Further, on October 19 the top court sought a report from the Punjab government on the brutal lynching of a Christian couple in the Kot Radha Kishan area of Kasur district earlier this month.

Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk directed the IGP Punjab, as well as the provincial secretary for minorities’ affairs on November 19 to submit a report on the tragic incident within three days, sources told The Express Tribune.

He issued the orders after going through press clippings and a note regarding the incident forwarded to him by the Human Rights Cell of the top court.

An enraged mob on November 4 had beaten to death Shama and her spouse Shehzad and later burnt their bodies in the furnace of a brick kiln, where the couple worked, after accusing them of desecrating the Holy Quran.

An official of the top court told The Express Tribune that complying with the court’s November 19 order, the IGP Punjab has submitted a report, stating that the matter is still under investigation.