SC lambastes govt for ‘non-seriousness’ in Faizabad sit in case

The Supreme Court on Friday expressed anger over the absence of the attorney general of Pakistan and questioned the government’s seriousness as it heard a suo motu case on the sit-in staged by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) at Faizabad Interchange in 2017.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam and comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa resumed hearing the suo motu case.

As the hearing went under way, Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mehmood said, “The attorney general is not present, thus the hearing should be adjourned.” Justice Isa asked, “Where is the attorney general? Is it his choice whether to show up or not?”

The deputy attorney general responded,” The AGP is in Lahore. The chief justice had directed him to go to Lahore in connection to some cases.”

At this, Justice Isa said, “The court not the chief justice issues directives. We are also part of the court and fixed this date on the wishes of the attorney general.”

Speaking about the Faizabad sit-in, Justice Isa said, “Pakistan was shutdown, which case can be more important than this?” He added, “This is not a joke. Who pays the attorney general?”

“The AGP is paid from the money received from citizen’s tax deposits,” the deputy attorney general replied. In response, Justice Isa said, “If his salary comes from tax deposits then he is answerable.”

“If the government does not want to pursue this case then it should inform the court and bury it,” Justice Isa remarked.

Further, he said, “We should be told whether you [government] want to make Pakistan a working state and whether you want to run it as per the law or through street power.”

Last year in November, the top court had taken suo motu notice of the sit-in staged by TLP leaders and activists at the Faizabad Interchange.

The three-week long sit-in, which had paralysed the federal capital, was called off on November 27 after protesters reached an agreement with the government.