LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Wednesday disposed of a petition against ‘un-Islamic’ anti-Covid-19 slogan introduced by the government ‘Corona say darna nahi, larna hay’ (don’t have to be afraid of corona, have to fight it).

Earlier, a federal law officer submitted a notification issued by the religious affairs and interfaith harmony ministry about the change of the slogan.

The notification said that the federal cabinet, in the light of the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) notified a new slogan ‘Corona waba hay, ehtiat jis ki shifa hay’ (Corona is a pandemic, care is the cure).

The chief justice had referred the matter to the CII for its opinion on choice of words in the anti- Covid-19 slogan.

Salman Idrees, a lawyer, had filed a petition against the words of the slogan used in the national print and electronic media and official sources of communication.

The petitioner argued that no one could fight against God’s will, but the national media and government communication sources had been using the “un-Islamic and immoral” words challenging the supremacy of God, seeking a ban on the slogan.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2021