SC rejects PEMRA, ISI and ECP’s reports on Faizabad Dharna case

The Supreme Court (SC) rejected on Friday reports submitted by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding last year’s sit-in and protest at Islamabad Faizabad Interchange.

A two-member bench headed by Judge Musheer Alam and comprising Judge Qazi Faez Isa resumed hearing of the sit-in case. During the hearing, the SC rejected the reports submitted by ISI, PEMRA and the ECP. The bench was informed by the Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mehmood that the attorney general of Pakistan was out of the city and requested the court to adjourn the hearing, local media reported.

The bench expressed its displeasure over the attorney's absence and remarked that the hearing date had been fixed upon the attorney general’s wishes. Mehmood replied that the Chief Justice of Pakistan had ordered him to appear in Lahore.

Islamabad sit-in continues as religious parties remain adamant

Last year in November, political parties including Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) protested and held a sit-in for nearly three weeks at Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange. They were protesting against a reversed change in the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017. The protesters demanded the resignation of then Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid.

In order to disperse the huge number of protesters, Islamabad police, with the help of Frontier Corps personnel and Rangers, launched an operation and used tear gas shells and rubber bullets. In retaliation, the protesters resorted to throwing stones at the security forces. Several people were injured while at least six people were killed during the clash.

The protest had come to an end after the protesting parties and government reached an agreement. One of the agreement included the resignation of Hamid, which he later tendered.