JUI-F moves IHC against ban on Ansarul Islam wing – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) challenged the government's decision on Saturday to ban its group of volunteers, Ansarul Islam, before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

On October 24, the federal government authorized the provinces to take appropriate measures against Ansarul Islam, saying it is capable of functioning as an "armed wing of the organization."

The JUI-F, through his lawyer, Kamran Murtaza, filed the petition with the IHC.

The petition said that "for fear that the protest by the petitioner will gain momentum due to its genuine demands and complaints, the established regime has actively started a vicious campaign against the petitioner by using various methods to suppress the voices of the petitioner. petitioner and to stop the protest / Azadi March even to begin. "

He questioned government actions such as the use of state institutions such as the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to issue verbal instructions to the media to completely prohibit the transmission or presentation of speeches by JUI-F leaders and Government officials / public officials who openly threaten the use of force to detain and disperse protesters or try to place their leaders in the custody of the National Responsibility Office under the cover of responsibility.

The petition said that the government was also trying to spread panic to the public to prevent them from participating in the "March of Azadi" of the JUI-F by issuing a threat alert through the National Anti-Terrorism Authority, alleging That there was a threat of attacks.

The petition said that no justified cause notice was issued to the petitioner or Ansarul Islam prior to the issuance of "contested notifications," and the right to a hearing was denied.

According to the petition, the JUI-F is registered in the Electoral Commission of Pakistan and in the constitution of the party presented to the Commission, Ansarul Islam is also mentioned.

The current use of the Private Military Organizations (Abolition and Prohibition) Act of 1974 is an example of a textbook on how this legislation can be used as a tool to silence dissent and protests by any peaceful organization that is unrelated to criminal or terrorist activities, he said. .

Posted on Dawn, October 27, 2019