IHC orders religious groups to call off Islamabad sit-in

ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court on Thursday ordered different religious groups to call off the sit-in in the capital, staged as a protest against the Election Bill 2017.

Hearing a petition filed by Maulana Allah Wasaya against the manipulation of Khatam e Nabuuwat clause (which was later amended) of Electoral Reforms Bill 2017, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui issued directives for calling off the strike, that has virtually paralysed the city from last 8 days.

"The petition will be taken up on the condition of ending the sit-in," remarked Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui.

He directed the petitioner's counsel to abide by the law and end the sit-in so the public's miseries can end. The judge observed that the young, elderly, employees, and students were being adversely affected due to the protest.

During the hearing, the judge also observed that if a good deed is carried out wrongly, then it becomes a wrong act.

He also ordered the petitioner's counsel to apologise for the scandalous remarks reportedly made against the chief justice of Pakistan at the protest staged by Tehreek e Labaik Pakistan and other religious factions.

The hearing was then adjourned until November 29.