IHC to announce verdict tomorrow

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict in a petition challenging the amendment to the oath of Khatm-e-Nabuwat (Finality of Prophethood) in Election Act 2017.

A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui conducted hearing of this petition and reserved judgment after hearing all the parties. The court will announce the verdict on March 9.

During the hearing, Justice Siddiqui remarked neither had the court issued notices to the Speaker National Assembly nor would it cross its constitutional remarks.

He said that the court has sought the information which is available on the websites of Senate and National Assembly.

Justice Siddiqui also made it clear that they are not against the minorities or usurping their rights. However, he said that concealing one's identity is tantamount to deceive the state.

The petitioner Maulana Allah Wasaya also appeared before the court and answered the questions raised by the court while his counsel Hafiz Arfat Ahmad Advocate submitted his written arguments in this matter.

A deputy attorney general submitted data of population of Ahmadis surfaced in the censuses carried out in 1981 and 1998. He also submitted Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) report about the travel history of 6,000 persons who obtained fresh passports after change of their religion from Muslim to Qadiani.

Previously, on March 5, the IHC bench had directed federal government to provide information when the decision to enact Election Act, 2017 was taken and by whom, who prepared the draft bill and particulars of the committee consisting of parliamentarians/experts/secretaries, and who accorded the draft bill.

He added on which date the Cabinet assented the bill for presentation in the National Assembly and on which date the same was tabled before the National Assembly, whether or not some deliberations were carried out on the bill and total number of members of National Assembly in attendance on the date when bill was tabled, and number of MNAs who voted for and against the bill.

The IHC bench continued whether any amendment was proposed in the draft bill before both Houses and if so, by whom and as to whether amendment proposed was carried out or not.

Justice Shaukat Siddiqui asked that particulars of members who favored the amendment and those who opposed it. What the result of proposed amendments was. The bench further asked about the dates on which final amendment introduced and approved by the Parliament.

Justice Siddiqui had directed the secretaries of National Assembly and Senate to cooperate with the deputy attorney general and also provide extract of proceedings mentioned above of both the Houses in sealed envelopes for the perusal of court in chamber.

The IHC bench had directed Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Arshad Mehmood Kiani to seek this information and had also directed secretaries of National Assembly and Senate to cooperate with the DAG and provide details in a sealed envelope.

Seven religious scholars have rendered their assistance in this matter as amicus curiae (friends of the court/ assistance) including Professor Dr Hafiz Hassan Madni, Institute of Islamic Studies, University of Punjab Lahore, Dr Mohsin Naqvi, ex-member Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), Professor Dr Sahibzada Sajidur Rehman, member CII, Mufti Muhammad Hussain Khalil Khel from Karachi, Akram Sheikh Advocate, Dr Aslam Khaki and Babar Awan.