Why propaganda war going on against SC, asks CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa Thursday questioned why a propaganda war was going on against the Supreme Court as the apex court issued a contempt notice to the owner of Monal Restaurant Luqman Ali Afzal for running propaganda on social media against its judgement of June 11, 2024. The campaign was related to commercial activities on and around the Pir Sohawa Road in the National Park at Margalla Hills.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, heard the plea on Thursday filed by the sacked chairperson of Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the government functionaries responsible for violating its June 11 order.

The court directed the restaurant owner to submit his reply to the contempt notice as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for launching a propaganda campaign on social media against the court’s decision. The court held that all the parties, had agreed to relocate the restaurants out of Margalla Hills National Park within three months but after the court order, the owner of the restaurant Luqman Ali Afzal indulged in propaganda on social media against the court’s decision and committed contempt of court.

The court also withdrew notices, earlier issued to the secretaries of the Cabinet Division and Ministry of Climate Change after the government withdrew its earlier notifications including the sacking of IWMB chairperson as well as transferring the Board from the Ministry of Climate Change to the Ministry of Interior.

Similarly, the court summoned the whole record on the Pine City project from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and adjourned further hearing until two weeks.

Rina Saeed Khan, who was recently sacked from her position as the IWMB chairperson had filed a contempt petition in the apex court under Article 204 of the Constitution for disobeying its order passed on June 11, 2024.

During the hearing, the case of 190 million pounds propped up and Justice Isa observed that the foreign government returned the money and the court ordered to send the people’s money back; however, the court was criticised, adding that the court has no media team to fight such mafia.

The court also asked Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal as who was behind the transfer of Islamabad Wildlife Management Board from the Ministry of Climate Change to the Ministry of Interior. He replied that the prime minister had issued orders in this regard.