Supreme Court (SC) has directed attorney general (AG) and information secretary to bring it to the notice of the prime minister (PM) that implementation of Urdu as national language and promotion and publication of provincial languages is a legal and constitutional requirement, and a constitutional obligation that the federal and provincial governments to fulfill.
The court directed the secretary cabinet division to approve a summary about the implementation of Urdu as national language and promotion and publication of provincial languages in the next meeting of cabinet.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked, “Implementation of Urdu as national language is not his personal desire or personal likes but it is a legal and constitutional requirement which cannot be overlooked.”
A three-member bench of SC presided over by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja took up the case for hearing Thursday.
Petitioner Kokab Iqbal advocate appeared in the court.
The court inquired from the Punjab government whether the other provinces have done work for the promotion and publication of their respective provincial languages.
Additional Advocate General Punjab Razzaq A Mirza and others appeared in the court.
Justice Jawwad remarked that the cabinet division should tell everyone that they have to do nothing. Cabinet division should file its reply with reference to summary.
The hearing of the case has been adjourned till July 10.
