The Punjab police have arrested the senior leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Pir Zaheer Ul Hasan Shah from Okara on charges of inciting violence against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.
The TLP leader has been shifted to an undisclosed location.
Earlier, the Lahore police registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Qila Gujjar Singh Police Station against Pir Zaheer Ul Hasan Shah and 1,500 other TLP workers, filed by the Station House Officer (SHO) Hammad Hussain.
The FIR includes charges under the anti-terrorism act, inciting religious hatred, spreading disorder, pressuring the judiciary, threatening the higher judiciary, interfering in government affairs, and obstructing legal duties.
The TLP leader, according to the FIR, spread hatred against the higher judiciary during a protest outside the Press Club. He announced a reward of Rs 10 million for bringing the head of Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
While addressing a news conference along with the Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal in Islamabad, the Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the law will take its course against the elements behind the provocative and baseless propaganda campaign against the CJP Qazi Faez Isa.
The defence minister regretted that an attempt is being made to spread bloodshed in the name of religion for vested political interests. He said that believing in the finality of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is part of our faith. He said that the Supreme Court has already clarified its position on the matter.
Khawaja Asif pointed out that Qazi Faez Isa is being targeted for many years under various pretexts. He stated that there is an ongoing effort to silence a principled and upright voice within the judiciary.
Emphasizing the need for the rule of law, Khawaja Asif stated that the dictation of any individual or group will not be accepted.
Condemning the propaganda campaign against the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal asserted that individuals or groups who sow seeds of hatred in the name of religion for their own petty political interests should be rejected. He emphasized that no one will be permitted to issue murder fatwas.
