PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has criticised the Protection of Pakistan Act 2014, saying his party will challenge the law in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference at the provincial headquarters of his party on Sunday, the JI chief termed Protection of Pakistan Act (PPA) a ‘black law’. He said that JI was going to the court against the law very soon because it was against the fundamental rights of people.

“This law is unconstitutional and repugnant to the fundamental human rights. Therefore, JI will raise voice against it on all forums,” Mr Siraj said. He said that the new law would turn the country into a police state as a Grade-15 police officer could issue shooting order to his subordinates. He said that the Act empowered law enforcement agencies including police to keep a suspect in detention for 60 days.

know more: JI won’t join PTI’s agitation: Siraj

Mr Siraj said that central executive council of JI had held its meeting in Lahore on Saturday and decided to challenge PPA in Supreme Court. He added that JI expected justice from the judiciary. He said that JI had opposed the new law in National Assembly and the party would fight legal battle to protect fundamental rights of the citizens.

Siraj terms the new law unconstitutional and against fundamental human rights

The JI chief said that the so-called champions of democracy and human rights did not oppose the law inside and outside the parliament. He urged civil society groups to oppose the new law.

Mr Siraj condemned bombardment on Gaza by Israeli forces and said that Pakistan being a nuclear power should help people of Palestine to stop Zionists’ invasion and atrocities against innocent Palestinians. “Pakistan is a nuclear power and it should take step to stop Israel from killing innocent women and children,” he said.

The JI chief announced a weeklong countrywide protest from Sunday to show solidarity with the people of Palestine. In this regard, protest rallies would be taken out in Islamabad, the four provincial capitals and other major cities.

“What is the use of the armies of Islamic countries if they can’t protect Palestine from Israeli aggression,” Mr Siraj said. He alleged that Israel had started genocide of Palestinians. He regretted that Islamic countries except Turkey had adopted silence over the Israeli invasion.

The JI chief appreciated the statement of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who had warned Israel to stop bombardment on civilians. He proposed that Islamic countries should take collective action against Israel and asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to play lead role to stop Israeli aggression.

Mr Siraj demanded emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Countries to adopt joint strategy against Israel. He said that Israel was enjoying military and diplomatic support of America.

The JI chief criticised United Nations and other international organisations for keeping silence on the inhuman attitude of Israel and appealed to human rights groups to support the innocent Palestinians.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2014