The federal government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court to withdraw its plea against the Faizabad sit-in verdict, as the apex court prepares to hear a set of review petitions against its 2019 order on the matter.
A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Amin uddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah, is scheduled to hear the Faizabad sit-in review case.
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) have also filed similar applications, seeking to withdraw their petitions against the Faizabad sit-in verdict.
Several review petitions have been filed in this case by various entities, including the Ministry of Defence, PTI, Pemra, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, and Ejazul Haq.
The Faizabad verdict pertains to a 2019 Supreme Court order that called for action against extremist elements in connection with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik’s (TLP) 2017 Faizabad sit-in. The TLP held a prolonged protest at Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange in November 2017, objecting to a minor change in the oath taken by lawmakers. The court had taken suo-motu notice of the protests.
The protests were sparked by an amendment to the oath candidates take regarding the Finality of Prophet-hood (Khatm-e-Nabuwwat), which caused significant unrest among religious groups in Pakistan. The government subsequently withdrew the amendment.