LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Thursday asked the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) for its opinion on choice of words in anti-Covid-19 slogan “Corona say darna nahi, larna hay” (don’t be afraid of corona, have to fight it).

A lawyer namely Salman Idrees filed a petition against the use of these words in national print and electronic media and official sources of communication.

The chief justice observed that the CII would deliberate on the matter in its next meeting and inform the president, prime minister and high court about its opinion.

The petitioner-lawyer argued that no one could fight against God’s will but the national media and government communication sources had been using ‘unIslamic’ and ‘immoral’ words challenging the supremacy of God. He asked the court to ban the use of words ‘‘Corona say darna nahi larna hay.”

Chief Justice Khan remarked that according to the preamble of the Constitution the supremacy belongs to Allah, and life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the perfect example of enforcement of Allah’s injunctions. He said the parliament got limited supremacy in the face of Allah’s ultimate supremacy.

To a court’s query, a deputy attorney general said he needed time to find out whether an opinion from the CII or the parliament was sought before officially using the words in-question.

The CJ noted that the prime minister also used these words. “How can he use these words without approval of parliament,” he wondered and said it seemed the government didn’t believe in parliament.

The chief justice observed that the people at the helm should use words prudently as their words depicted national ideology.

The hearing was adjourned for a date to be fixed later while the federal government was also directed to file its reply to the petition.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2020