Latest news with #SarfarazDogar
Express Tribune
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IHC orders release of PTI workers arrested after November 26 protest
Listen to article The Islamabad High Court on Thursday ordered the immediate release of over 120 PTI workers who were arrested following the November 26 protest. A two-judge bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif, granted bail to the detainees. The court directed them to submit an affidavit at their respective police stations, pledging that they would not engage in similar actions in the future. The hearing saw legal representation from Ali Bukhari, Babar Awan, and Murtaza Tori, who argued for the detainees' release. The court set bail at Rs20,000, requiring each individual to submit one surety. The PTI workers were arrested in connection with protests held on November 26, 2024, which led to a government crackdown. Last month, mercy petitions submitted by 19 individuals convicted for their involvement in the May 9 protests were approved, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced in a statement. 'Sequel to the promulgation of punishments to May 9 Tragedy convicts, they have exercised their right to appeal and have asked for mercy / remission in their punishments,' the military's media wing stated. The ISPR further said that a total of 67 convicts had submitted mercy petitions, with 48 of these petitions processed to Courts of Appeal. It added that the petitions of 19 convicts had been accepted 'purely on humanitarian grounds, in accordance with law.' 'They all shall be released after completion of procedural formalities,' the statement continued. The press release also mentioned that the mercy petitions of the remaining convicts would be decided in due course, following the legal process. It emphasised that all those convicted retain their right to appeal and pursue other legal remedies as per the law and constitution. 'The remission of punishments is a testament to the strength of the due process and fairness, which ensures that justice is served while also taking into account the principles of compassion and mercy,' the ISPR concluded. The following individuals have had their punishments remitted: Muhammad Ayaz, son of Sahibzada Khan Sami Ullah, son of Meer Dad Khan Laeeq Ahmed, son of Manzoor Ahmed Amjad Ali, son of Manzoor Ahmed Yasir Nawaz, son of Ameer Nawaz Khan Said Alam, son of Maaz Ullah Khan Zahid Khan, son of Muhammad Nabi Muhammad Suleman, son of Said Ghani Jan Hamza Sharif, son of Muhammad Azam Muhammad Salman, son of Zahid Nisar Asher Butt, son of Muhammad Arshad Butt Muhammad Waqas, son of Malik Muhammad Khalil Sufayan Idrees, son of Idrees Ahmed Muneeb Ahmed, son of Naveed Ahmed Butt Muhammad Ahmed, son of Muhammad Nazir Muhammad Nawaz, son of Abdul Samad Muhammad Ali, son of Muhammad Boota Muhammad Bilawal, son of Manzoor Hussain Muhammad Ilyas, son of Muhammad Fazal Haleem In December 2024, military courts sentenced 60 more civilians to prison terms for their roles in violent attacks on military installations during the nationwide riots on May 9, 2023. The sentences come just days after the ISPR announced that 25 civilians had been handed prison terms for their involvement in the same events. The individuals have been convicted for their involvement in violent attacks on key military and government facilities, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore, the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the ISI office in Faisalabad, and Bannu Cantt, among others, the ISPR stated.
Express Tribune
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Islamabad High Court Journalists Association challenges PECA amendments
Listen to article The Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA) has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court, challenging the government's recent amendments to the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The petition argued that the amendments constitute an "attack on press freedom" and requests a judicial review. The petitioner's lawyer has also asked the court to form a larger bench to hear the case. The IHCJA's petition contended that the PECA amendments violate Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution, which protect freedom of speech and information. It further claimed the law grants the government excessive censorship powers, infringing on digital rights. Additionally, the petition argued that the regulatory authority created under Peca lacks constitutional legitimacy. Acting IHC Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar directed that the case be linked with other pending petitions before Justice Inam Amin Minhas, who will decide on the request for a larger bench. The acting chief justice also inquired about the schedule for the case, which has been postponed for two weeks. The amended law, which received assent from President Asif Ali Zardari, includes new definitions, the creation of regulatory bodies, and stricter penalties for spreading "false" information. The amendments reduce the punishment for spreading fake news online to three years in prison and impose fines of up to Rs2 million. It also proposes the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and a Social Media Protection Tribunal. The amendments empower individuals who feel aggrieved by false information to approach the authority for the removal or blocking of such content, with orders to be issued within 24 hours. Additionally, the law allows the authority to require social media platforms to register with it, and establishes a Social Media Complaint Council to handle complaints. The amendments also propose the creation of Social Media Protection Tribunals to resolve cases within 90 days, with appeals allowed to the Supreme Court within 60 days.
Express Tribune
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IHC CJ rejects challenge to new seniority list
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq rejected a representation from five judges challenging the new seniority list, which was issued last week following the transfer of three judges to the IHC from three other high courts, sources said on Monday. The chief justice ruled that the transferred judges did not require fresh oath, and that their seniority would be counted from the oath of the judge's first high court. Accordingly, the new seniority list of the IHC judges would remain unchanged. On February 1, the judges strength at the IHC increased with the transfer of Justice Sarfaraz Dogar from the Lahore High Court, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from the Sindh High Court, and Justice Muhammad Asif from the Balochistan High Court. On February 4, a revised seniority list was issued, designating Justice Sarfaraz Dogar as the senior puisne judge, followed by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani as the second senior-most judge, and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb in the third position. Justice Tariq Jahangiri was in the fourth place, Justice Babar Sattar fifth, Justice Sardar Ishaq Khan sixth, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir seventh, Justice Suman Riffat Imtiaz eighth, Justice Soomro ninth, Justice Azam Khan 10th, Justice Muhammad Asif 11th and Justice Inam Amin Minhas 12th. Following the new seniority list, Justice Kayani, Justice Jahangiri, Justice Sattar, Justice Khan and Justice Imtiaz submitted a representation to the chief justice, saying that Justice Dogar could not be considered as an IHC judge until he took oath as required under Article 194 of the Constitution. The five judges said that Justice Dogar had only been sworn in as a Lahore High Court judge. However, the IHC's seniority list already listed him as an IHC judge, placing him directly below the chief justice. They urged the chief justice to resolve the matter before the JCP meeting on Monday. The sources said that Chief Justice Aamir Farooq rejected the representation and instructed the IHC Registrar's Office to inform all those five judges about his decision on the representation. Accordingly, Justice Dogar, who took oath as a high court judge in 2015, would be the senior puisne judge of the IHC.
