LAHORE: Due to unavailability of interim Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar and caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the Lahore High Court on Monday adjourned hearing of a contempt petition questioning non-implementation of a 2019 verdict requiring action against people involved in publication of unauthentic copies of the Holy Quran.

At the outset of the hearing, Justice Shujaat Ali Khan asked the law officers of the federal and Punjab governments that whether the prime minister and the chief minister would personally appear before the court or submit their policy statements in writing on the matter.

The law officers told the court that the caretaker PM was on an official visit to China, while the caretaker CM was in Islamabad and could not be contacted to seek their opinions.

The Punjab government lawyer said a joint committee comprising federal and provincial officials had been formed to implement the court’s order.

However, the judge observed that the government was doing nothing except wasting time.

He observed that the caretaker chief minister was interested in inaugurating roads and development projects only.

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar said a liaison had been established between the FIA and other law enforcement agencies for the implantation of the judgement.

Justice Khan observed that the court would pass its order on Tuesday.

Petitioner Hassan Muawayah alleged that the Ahamdi community and other non-Muslims continued to publish and upload copies of the Holy Quran with distorted Arabic text and mutilated translation on the internet and Google play store only to mislead the Muslims.

The petitioner said repeated applications had been filed with the home department and police authorities for action against the suspects in the light of the judgement.

He said the conduct of the respondent authorities was in violation of the law and the court’s decision.

In the judgement passed in 2019, the court had ordered the government to ensure the copies of Holy Quran were duly approved by the Quran Board before the publication in press and on the internet.

The court also directed the Quran Board and the government to keep a vigilant eye on publication and printing of any religious material, in particular the Holy Quran, against the original text or authentic meaning.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2023