LAHORE: Following the “inciting of violence” against a prominent functionary by an office-bearer of a political-religious party, the government vowed on Sunday to take legal action.
To express their disapproval of the Mubarak Sani case ruling, which the supreme court recently reconsidered in light of a Punjab government request, the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) arranged a number of events across the nation.
Vice emir Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah made statements at one such event outside the Lahore Press Club that amounted to inciting violence against Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa. TLP chief Saad Rizvi was also present.
Shah later stressed that he was speaking in his own capacity, but the comments were immediately met with criticism in official circles.
To express their disapproval of the Mubarak Sani case ruling, which the supreme court recently reconsidered in light of a Punjab government request, the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) arranged a number of events across the nation.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar responded on X (formerly Twitter), saying that such sentiments would not be accepted in Pakistani society and that there was no place for them.
He noted that despite being used as the foundation for spreading such a divisive narrative, the Supreme Court’s ruling did not favor any specific group. Denouncing and rejecting the comments, he asserted that there was a political motivation behind this false narrative and that Pakistan was being harmed by this way of thinking.
Azma Bokhari, the minister of information for Punjab, revealed to Dawn that the administration was actively exploring filing a lawsuit.
She referred to the statement as “unacceptable” and declared that the speaker would undoubtedly face legal repercussions from the government.
“It is unacceptable to tolerate such regrettable and provocative remarks against the chief justice in a setting where numerous unfortunate incidents have already occurred,” the speaker declared.
Head of the Pakistan Ulema Council Tahir Ashrafi denounced the remarks, saying that the ulema has always condemned violence and that they would be detrimental to their cause.
SSP (Operations) Tasawwar Iqbal of Lahore, when approached, stated that the police high command was thinking about taking the proper measures in response to the speech given at the TLP meeting.
TLP leader Saad Rizvi asked that the government file a reference against CJP Isa and have him appear in court during his own statements at the event on Sunday.
He declared that this was their final warning and that his party will just “surround the Supreme Court” in the future instead of organizing a sit-in.
Allama Ghulam Abbas Faizi, Allama Farooqul Hasan Qadri, Sajjad Ahmad Saifi, Hafiz Hafeez Rizvi, divisional president Haji Siddique Rizvi, district leader Usman Muzaffar Naqshbandi, Sheikh Waqas, Advocate Mian Mohsin, and other TLP leaders were present at the Lahore gathering in addition to Saad Rizvi.
