June 5, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, June 4: The Federal Shariat Court directed on Tuesday the finance division to submit para-wise comments on the shariat petition moved by a local lawyer against three national saving schemes by June 12.

The division bench of the court, comprising Chief Justice Fazal Elahi and Justice Fida Mohammad, issued the directives on the petition filed by Pakistan Services Bar Association President Abdul Rehman Siddiqui in his personal capacity.

The petitioner contended that the government ran the National Saving Certificates, Special Saving Certificates and Mahana Aamdani Certificates, having the provisions of Riba (interest), were un-Islamic as well as violative of the order of the Shariat Appellate bench of the Supreme Court.

The court in its directives to the finance division noted that after the last hearing on the issue, identical instructions were issued, which were not complied with by the relevant authorities.

Expressing resentment on the failure of the finance division in doing so, the latest orders said it must submit its para-wise report on the petition within due course of time.

The next date of hearing on the issue would be fixed in office.

It may be noted here that a five-member appellate bench of the Supreme Court is going to hear an appeal of the United Bank Limited (UBL) against the Shariat Appellate Bench of the apex court which had declared Riba contrary to the injunctions of Islam.