ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the federal government’s appeal against the Lahore High Court (LHC) order that had permitted the Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) and its affiliate Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation to continue welfare activities until a final decision about their fate.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik and also comprising Justice Sardar Tariq Masood had taken up a plea moved by the interior ministry against the LHC’s interim order.

On a petition filed by JuD chief Hafiz Saeed against some severe restrictions, the high court had restrained in April the government “from harassing” him and allowed the petitioner to continue his “lawful welfare activities” till further orders.

The government had earlier promulgated an ordinance amending the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, with the aim of placing severe restrictions on individuals and organisations banned by the United Nations Security Council.

Petition dismissed on the grounds that govt is already involved in case in high court

The purpose apparently was to declare JuD and its charity arm proscribed groups ahead of some crucial decisions that were to be taken by the Financial Action Task Force.

After the ordinance was promulgated, all properties of JuD and its affiliate in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan were confiscated. Some 148 properties and assets of the foundation were also seized in Punjab.

On Wednesday, the apex court rejected the petition on the grounds that the federal government was already involved in the case in the high court.

In its plea the interior ministry had argued that the interim order was creating a hindrance in complying with the international and national legal requirements and might involve severe implications for the country.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2018