ISLAMABAD: A son of the founder of outlawed Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to get his name removed from the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

Masroor Nawaz Jhangvi, who was elected to the provincial assembly of Punjab in a by-election from Jhang-II (PP-78) in 2016, is the son of Maulana Haq Nawaz Jhangvi.

Mr Masroor’s name was included in the fourth schedule in 2014.

The petitioner through his counsel Tariq Asad Advocate cited the secretary interior, the secretary home department Punjab, chairman National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and the governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) as respondents.

The counsel contended that his client was not involved in any terror activity but had been deprived of his identity as the interior ministry sealed his CNIC rendering him “unable to open and operate his bank account and draw his salary.”

The petition said Mr Masroor had never been convicted under any criminal offence nor he was involved or nominated in any case.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had declared Mr Masroor eligible for contesting the elections, it added.

The petition requested the court to direct the respondents to remove Mr Masroor’s name from the fourth schedule.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2017