Faizabad sit-in: IHC warns interior secy of contempt proceedings

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday warned the interior secretary of contempt of court proceedings if he failed to submit a report of the committee formed to fix responsibility for introducing controversial amendment to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui was hearing a case pertaining to the Faizabad sit-in in the federal capital.

He came down hard on the secretary for failing to submit the report in compliance with its previous orders.

A three-member committee, comprising Raja Zafarul Haq, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan, had probed introduction of a controversial amendment to Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath for electoral candidates and compiled a report.

Justice Siddiqui said the court would serve a contempt of court notice to the concerned authorities, if the report will not be submitted in the next hearing.

A federal law officer informed the judge that a member of the committee was abroad and sought one-week time to comply with the court orders.

He said the report couldn’t be submitted in the absence of Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who has gone abroad on an official visit.

Unfortunately, Justice Siddiqui, remarked his previous orders were flouted.

He also took Intelligence Bureau (IB) director general to task over failure to submit his report.

He directed the interior secretary and DG IB to submit their written response on next hearing. The hearing was adjourned till February 12.