This is Pakistan, not India: Pak judge takes jibe at India after cases against Pastun protesters dropped
Not only did IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah criticise the Islamabad administration for charging the protesters with sedition, but also took a jibe against India.
The Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday criticised the administration for slapping sedition charges against arrested protesters from Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) and Awami WorkersParty (AWP).
At least 23 workers from the two outfits were arrested by Islamabad Police for protesting against the arrest of PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen. All of them had filed bail petitions against their arrest, reported Pakistani news portal Dawn.com.
Not only did IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah criticise the Islamabad administration for charging the protesters with sedition, but also took a jibe against India.
This is Pakistan, not India, Minallah said.
His comments come at a time when some individuals in India have been booked under the National Security Act (NSA) for making controversial statements at anti-CAA protests.
While Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat told the court that all charges against the protesters had been dropped, Minallahquestioned why sedition charges were invoked in the first place against protesters. The IHC had earlier sought an explanation from the magistrate as well.
“We don’t expect that a democratic government will curb freedom of expression,” said Minallah as quoted by Dawn.com. Minallah added that an elected government cannot place curbs on freedom of expression and should not fear criticism.
Everyone’s constitutional rights will be protected. This is Pakistan, not India, he said. Justice Minallah went on to add that Pakistan is a democracy and hoped that they (government) will not take away the rights of people.
He asked the people to come to the court if they were not allowed by the government to hold protests.
“If you want to protest, get permission. If you don’t get permission, the court is here,” he said.
The 23 people had been arrested last month by Islamabad police for holding protests in front of the National Press Club against the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen, the chief of the rights-based alliance PTM, for allegedly saying that the 1973 Constitution violated basic human rights.
