Islamabad High Court has issued show-cause notice to Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal when it came to know that he stopped Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration from taking any action against participants of the Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) sit-in under the guise of negotiations. Resuming the hearing of two pleas filed by residents of Islamabad in the matter, a single-member bench of the IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui issued directives to the secretary Ministry of Interior to produce report of the committee led by Senator Raja Zafarul Haq on the amendment to election laws.
The bench said in its order that report of the committee shall not be made public till next date of hearing whereas persons mentioned therein as responsible shall remain within Pakistan. Besides, the bench issued notices to Sector Commander of Inter-Services Intelligence and Director General Intelligence Bureau to appear before the court in person on the next date of hearing to dispel an impression that activity of Faizabad Interchange is sponsored by the spy agencies.
Appearing before a single-member bench of the IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, Chief Commissioner ICT Zulfiqar Haider submitted that Ahsan Iqbal stopped the ICT administration from acting upon the court order for removal of the protestors from the Interchange so that negotiation process may continue. However, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said, "It is beyond the understanding how the federal minister or even the Prime Minister can sit over an order passed by the court of competent jurisdiction, unless it is not reversed by the Appellate Court."
Justice Siddiqui termed the act of Ahsan Iqbal as clearly an effort to undermine the authority of the court and a blatant act of contempt. He passed the order, "Let show cause notice be issued to Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Interior, to explain that under which authority of law, he stopped the administration from acting upon the order passed by this court and why contempt of court proceedings may not be initiated against him.
"Responding to chief commissioner of the ICT that all practical efforts shall be made to enforce the writ of state under the law, Justice Siddiqui said the court has already directed that in order to protect the rights of six million citizens of twin cities, all lawful steps be taken to clear Faizabad Interchange. Adjourning the hearing of the matter till November 27, the judge said in its order, "it is made clear that force deputed by the ICT administration shall not use 'fire arms' during clearance operation, if required to be conducted".
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