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LAHORE: A property developer summoned by ‘Shariat Court’ of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) on a complaint regarding a monetary dispute has moved the Lahore High Court, seeking action against Qazi (judge) of the organisation’s ‘court’ for running a parallel judicial system.
Khalid Saeed of Samanabad has made interior secretary, federal law minister, Punjab chief secretary, Punjab IG, Lahore CCPO and Qazi Hafiz Idrees of JuD parties in the petition filed through Advocate Maqbool Hussain Sheikh.
Related: JuD sets up 'sharia court' in Lahore
The petitioner says he received summons written on the letter pad of ‘Darul Qaza Al-Sharia’ Jamat-ud-Dawa, Masjid Al-Qadsia, Chauburji, Lahore, with a direction to appear before its ‘arbitration court of Sharia’.
He says the summons was issued to him on the complaint of Muhammad Azam.
The summons warned that in case of non-appearance no excuse would be considered and the petitioner would be proceeded against in accordance with Sharia law, the petition stated.
He alleged that he also received telephone calls from the JuD “court” Qazi in “threatening tone”, asking him to appear before him.
He said that applications were submitted to the government functionaries (respondents) and Chief Justice of Pakistan against the illegal summons but remained unanswered.
Editorial: JuD ‘courts’
The petitioner urged the court to order the respondent authorities to look into the matter and take action against the organisation for committing illegal acts and for subverting the Constitution by establishing a parallel judicial system.
Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan issued notices to the respondents for April 26.
Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2016
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Comments (70) Closed
Apr 20, 2016 08:38am
No parallel court system can operate by a party or group.Pakistani legal system and laws are based generally on Islam.There may be imperfections in implementation.
shah abdul hannan, Dhaka,
Researcher on Islamic law
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Apr 20, 2016 08:45am
This should not be taken lightly, although it will be. Our history is to all menaces to spiral out of control before wondering whether to take action. Allowing these half baked fanatics to assume further confidence than they already have, means that the little freedoms we enjoy will also give way to taliban types harassing us daily.
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Apr 20, 2016 08:47am
Lahore the new Swat
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Apr 20, 2016 08:47am
Weakness of the state is becoming obvious
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Apr 20, 2016 08:51am
Still no need for a rangers operation in Punjab?
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Apr 20, 2016 09:05am
Organisers should be arrested for running parallel courts against Constitution of the country.
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Apr 20, 2016 09:06am
This is another nightmare situation in Pakistan after Lal Masjid.
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Apr 20, 2016 09:06am
Pakistan should be worried of this act.
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Apr 20, 2016 09:09am
Government needs to stop this nonsense before it becomes an issue. There cannot be courts within a court.
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Apr 20, 2016 09:12am
Cant imagine! a govt is so num and dumb .
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Apr 20, 2016 09:14am
Pakistan is slipping from bad to worse
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Apr 20, 2016 09:14am
"Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan issued notices to the respondents for April 26.".
The case matter demands early proceedings. How expect that JuD will not take any action before 26th ?
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Apr 20, 2016 09:24am
Pakistan is being stressed by too many such elements in the society.
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Apr 20, 2016 09:25am
i think govt should seriously investigate this as it is similer to what had happened in swat and provide him protection also
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Apr 20, 2016 09:26am
Inaction will lead to other groups also starting their own justice system leading to anarchy. Wonder why Punjab government is not shutting it down. May be these groups are close to the establishment?
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Apr 20, 2016 09:28am
Enough is enough, how can the interior minster allow such nuisance in the capital of Punjab. These extremists are running a parallel system of judiciary and no one has taken any action as yet. It seems to be like Lal Masjid and needs to be dealt with Strictly.
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Apr 20, 2016 09:30am
Saw it coming, sooner rather than later. The government does not seem to be interested in the national affairs. The establishment of this self-styled court should have been blocked when it was announced.
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Apr 20, 2016 09:32am
Every day some bad news from Pakistan.
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Apr 20, 2016 09:36am
Where are you Mr PM, and MR CM? Please stop this so called Sharia Court now before it is too late.
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Apr 20, 2016 10:22am
What is the use of organizations like JuD in a civilized society. What has kept the organization alive for this long should be investigated.
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Apr 20, 2016 10:24am
There are no parallel courts in place. This is a place where people go to understand the jurisprudence according to the Shariah. They don't pass judgement or hand out punishments. This is an intentional effort by dawn and it's team of yellow journalist to spread misinformation. These counsels have been operational since the early 90's. Propaganda at its best. Instead of sitting here and commenting people should visit the place and form their opinion. All Islamic institutions have a function like this where people take their concerns and look for a decision based on Shariah. Implementing those decisions are not up to the counsel. Instead of reporting on all the humanitarian effort JUD does they decide to malign it with deliberate and irresponsible reporting.
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Apr 20, 2016 10:59am
Thanks but no thanks. There is only one government Of Pakistan. Please go away to another country because Pakistan does not want a parallel court system.
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Apr 20, 2016 11:02am
It may for some feathers, but if the complainant believes, that he has done no wrong, then he may as well go and have it settled equitably and hopefully justly.
Arbitration and reconciliation, should be encouraged. It would be cheaper and quicker. The accuser would not have to pay the police to register the case and if it is Justice, then that would be well served. We have known that the orders of the session judges are being ignored and they cannot do anything about it. The orders of the toothless, unless the Supreme Court comes to the rescue of the citizens, nothing will happen. More people will opt for a speedy and hopefully a just resolution.
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Apr 20, 2016 11:12am
Are authorities asleep? What action has been taken since this news of parallel justice system appeared few weeks back in Dawn.
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Apr 20, 2016 11:26am
I am a Pakistani expat and want to return home. But these kind of developments make the country seem alien and scary. I dont know if I want to bring up my children in such a place. I am not afraid of living in a religious society but I am afraid of living in a society where religious interpretation is left to people who could not do anything else in life and their limited exposure renders them incapable of making meaningful/thoughtful/far reaching/broad minded (dont read liberal)/ kind/ empathetic judgements/statements
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Apr 20, 2016 12:22pm
Pakistan on path of destruction. No one can stop it. Please Army save Pakistan from sinking.
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Apr 20, 2016 12:28pm
@Anger you are right since I left Pakistan I feel the same. There is no chance of change in Pakistan.
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Apr 20, 2016 12:31pm
For sure I am never returning to Pakistan.
I left Pakistan due to the intimidation factor of rogue pakistanis. This story with that qazi's "threatening" tone just reignited my worst fears.
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Apr 20, 2016 12:31pm
So much for non-sate actors. They have now started acting within the state.
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Apr 20, 2016 12:33pm
Pakistani courts have failed to deliver justice to common. People are compelled to get justice by other means.
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Apr 20, 2016 12:34pm
It looks Khalid Saeed did wrong, and now he want to take time and bribe the authorities to get the favour.
In Sharia Court it is quite difficult for him.
He want to make issue if he is clean go and settled the dispute.
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Apr 20, 2016 12:34pm
Chief Minister of Punjab , Law Minister should be Fire for letting this happen where the government being challenge and not only that the miscreants even successfully managed to established there courts ? Irony is these so called politicians creating mess and expecting Pak Army to clear it . How come this Chotu Gang been untouched for so long , how on earth they have been allowed carrying their illegal activities under the very nose of government.
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Apr 20, 2016 12:42pm
@Omar I as a Pakistani want a system of justice based on Sharia. Please don't comment on behalf of Pakistan
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Apr 20, 2016 01:04pm
really is it happening in lahore wow. no words.
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Apr 20, 2016 01:12pm
What about the good governance claims made by the Chief minister.
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Apr 20, 2016 01:37pm
@Arif
Do you know there is FSC operational in Pakistan and the accuser can invoke the same if not satisfied with other judicial system
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Apr 20, 2016 01:39pm
People should understand that it is not a court and not even a parallel judicial system. This is an arbitration center, which is very common throughout the world. The arbitration is done on volunteer basis per a set of rules agreed to both parties, in this case per Shariah rules. The decision is not binding of any arbitration center in the world unless agreed in writing in a certain contract.
Arbitration centers all over the world are very helpful as they save time and money to the parties be keeping them from going to court and suing each other.
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Apr 20, 2016 02:17pm
Pathetic state of affairs.Pakistan is going backwards !!!!
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Apr 20, 2016 02:27pm
Government should take action against this parallel system. Do not create another Swat in Lahore.
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Apr 20, 2016 02:30pm
this needs to be shutdown, the people involved fined. There can be no parallel law.
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Apr 20, 2016 02:50pm
This will be second state within an "Elected State". I hope better sense prevails and all the concerned take immediate actions to stop these courts from mushrooming....
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Apr 20, 2016 03:24pm
This is what you get for not banning these so called humanitarian offshoots of terrorist organizations. They will morph into parallel states. Nip the evil in the bud.
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Apr 20, 2016 04:27pm
There is a big confusion in the judicial sysytem and need looking into it.
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Apr 20, 2016 04:32pm
Here we go again. These culprits, and many more in Pakistan, aren't done challenging the authority of the Govt. It seems any criminal can and does anything they feel like in the name of religion. If this situation is not dealt with Iron hand and immediately, will cause lots of mayhem in the country in future.
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Apr 20, 2016 04:35pm
Khalid Saeed Sb. We need brave people like you to take on these extremist organizations .
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Apr 20, 2016 05:02pm
This man is becoming a huge nuisance, growing bigger by each passing day !
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Apr 20, 2016 05:43pm
It is a shame.
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Apr 20, 2016 06:13pm
For God sake our lawmaker must understand pakistan need!! Instant justice system, otherwise people will make there own jirga system.
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Apr 20, 2016 06:16pm
running a parallel court - the people patronizing them are the real culprits. Pakistan a modern country must move forward.
Stop this type of foolishness.
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Apr 20, 2016 06:30pm
When the people fail to elect representatives that will serve them.
When the people elect greedy and corrupt to run their affairs.
When most (not all) people are not fair in their dealings.
Then, such illegal courts pop up.
Societies with injustice don't go too far.
Army won't change any thing permanently. It is we who HAVE TO CHANGE ourselves, to make a lasting change in our society.
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Apr 20, 2016 06:32pm
@M.S. Arbitration is based on mutual consent. Arbitrators cannot send summons based on complaints.
When summons are being sent to an unwilling party, as seems to be the case here, it is a parallel judicial system.
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Apr 20, 2016 06:33pm
The way things are heading, JUD Qazi, is soon going to summon, people on Panama Scandal.
I hope I am wrong.
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Apr 20, 2016 07:19pm
Writ of the state is being challenged right in under the nose and from the seat of government of Punjab. Shame on Punjab Government. Should Army be called, Panama leak affected Government?
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Apr 20, 2016 07:58pm
I am begging mullahs to leave this country alone .
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Apr 20, 2016 08:27pm
Jinnah's pakistan is history
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Apr 20, 2016 08:28pm
So what Mr. Nisar, Interior Minister, say?
Do we have a shrinking government?
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Apr 20, 2016 09:15pm
Good drama by JuD . Dispensing justice according to their own interpretation is no justice.
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Apr 20, 2016 09:16pm
As DG ISPR has just informed us that all "NO GO" areas will be eliminated throughout Pakistan, lets see what happens here.
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Apr 20, 2016 11:20pm
Parallel judiciary in Punjab, not acceptable.
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Apr 21, 2016 03:36am
Do we need Army to clear up all the mess created by the governments both
Federal and Provincial? The set up of parallel court and no action by civilian
governments may warrant Army to step in.
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Apr 21, 2016 04:54am
Army doing job of police and civilian government and now this parallel court. Time to rethink and focus on democracy and strong institutions.
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Apr 21, 2016 08:28am
Taking law into.hands has become order of the day in Pakistan. Now siuation has taken another deleteious trend/ turn
The people has started administration of justice by themselves. State and its writ stands nowhere. Lawlessness is seen every nook and corner of the country
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Apr 21, 2016 11:13am
Everyone here urging the govt to take action should realise that the govt has more pressing issues like saving the children of the PM from the fallout of Panama leaks instead of attending to such trivial matters.
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Apr 21, 2016 02:50pm
JD or any other organization if involved in such kinds of activities must be punished severely according to the Pakistani laws,as the state owned law and law enforcing authorities are only authorized to operate laws of Pakistan.
But in our beloved it is very sad and painful for the Pakistanis that the federal,provincial govts are assisting the the banned groups and organisations to oppress the helpless Pakistanis.
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Apr 21, 2016 03:59pm
Justice is at deadliest junction.
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Apr 21, 2016 06:28pm
@Rizwan if these are not parallel courts then what authority do they have to issue summons to appear before a qazi?
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Apr 21, 2016 09:29pm
The state should punish these mullahs who take law on their own hands
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Apr 21, 2016 10:58pm
The system is all messed up
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Apr 22, 2016 04:00pm
bureaucracy is sleeping............
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Apr 22, 2016 04:03pm
the minister for law asserted to resolve the issue in program Aj Shahzaib Khanzada K Sath but the situation is still at large ................
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