Supreme Court takes notice of Islamabad sit-in

As religious parties enter their 15th day of protest and continue to wreak havoc in the capital, Supreme Court has finally taken on Tuesday notice of the ongoing sit-in at Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad.

While hearing the case, Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked the defence and interior secretaries, the attorney-general and advocate-general of Punjab to submit a report in this regard by Thursday. The court also issued notices to the inspector-generals and attorney-generals of Islamabad and Punjab, seeking their replies by Thursday.

Justice Isa asked the government authorities what steps have been taken so far to protect public's rights. He added that which Shariah (Islamic law) permits obstruction of people's routes and use of foul language.

IHC extends deadline to end Islamabad sit-in

The parties have been protesting against a reversed change in the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017 in their sit-in. In protest to the government’s controversial amendment and reversal in the finality of Prophethood oath for lawmakers, two parties, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan, have been protesting to protect public's basic rights.

Islamabad High Court has given a deadline of November 23 to the government to end the sit-in. A meeting took place on Monday which was attended by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousuf, clerics and scholars to find a peaceful solution to end the sit-in at Islamabad.

However, there was no breakthrough as the meeting between representatives of the TLY and government ministers held at Punjab House was unsuccessful. The protesters refuse to budge from their demand to sack Law Minister Zahid Hamid.