Faizabad sit-in: SC displeased with ISI, capital police over ‘inconsistent’ reports

• AG tells apex court anti-protest law awaits federal cabinet’s approval 

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday pointed out inconsistencies in the reports submitted by the Islamabad police chief and Inter-Services Intelligence, saying that the reports lack certain information.

A two-judge bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Mazhar Alam, was hearing a case pertaining to the Faizabad sit-in that had paralysed the federal capital for over two weeks last year.

After going through the reports, the SC expressed displeasure with the ISI and the police. However, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf requested the bench to remove the name of ISI from the court order, adding that it is the job of the administration to take such steps and ISI has no role in this regard.

The bench noted that they will consider this aspect.

The report filed by the capital police stated that 418 persons were arrested while 27 FIRs had been registered against the suspects. However, the bench noted no detail of challan etc has been shared with the court.

The bench questioned the representatives of the government and security agencies: “What was learnt from the protest? Will that happen again.”

Upon which, AG Ausaf informed the court that the government has drafted laws to handle protest demonstrations in the country. The draft laws will be presented and discussed at a meeting of the federal cabinet scheduled to take place on Tuesday, he added.

He further said that the government will not allow anyone to hold protests in the capital expect the Democracy Corner.

During the hearing on Friday, Justice Mushir wondered if the government would treat anyone challenging its writ like it did in the case of the Faizabad sit-in.

He asked the law officer whether the protesters had not committed any crime under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Was not any public property damaged or any police officer injured during the protest, the judge questioned.

The protesters set off for Islamabad from Lahore, but no one bothered to stop them there, he continued. Nor did anyone stop them at the Liaquat National Bagh, where they had camped out en route to Islamabad, the judge noted.

The federal law officer said that “only a child” had died during the protest and as many as 418 people were booked in different cases.