MANSEHRA: The district bar association on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution barring its members from appearing in cases of individuals accused of blasphemy or desecration of the Holy Quran in the court of law.

“The district bar association, in an emergency session requisitioned by lawyers, unanimously adopted a resolution, making it clear that its members won’t appear before any court on behalf of those accused of committing blasphemy or desecrating the Holy Quran,” Shahjehan Khan Swati Advocate, president of the district bar, told reporters here on Sunday.

The session, held under Mr Swati’s chairmanship, considered and approved resolutions presented by senior lawyers Musawar Aslam Tanoli and Azhar Sajjad.

“These resolutions called for a formal restriction on lawyers representing individuals accused of blasphemy or desecration of the Holy Quran,” Mr Swati said, adding that the resolutions were adopted unanimously with no member voicing opposition.

Lawyer says decision unanimous

According to the resolutions, no member of the district bar association is permitted to advocate for or represent individuals accused of blasphemy, desecration of the Holy Quran, or insulting the Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace Be upon Him) companions (Sahaba-i-Karam) and family (Ahle Bait).

TEACHERS DEMANDED: Residents of Battle area here have demanded that the government appoint three more teachers to a primary school.

Talking to reporters on Sunday, they said currently over 150 students were enrolled in the government primary school in Battle, but only a single teacher was posted here.

“Owing to a shortage of teachers, the education of our children has been adversely affected, and local lawmakers should take this issue to the provincial assembly,” a resident said.

JUI-F MEETING: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s deputy provincial emir and former senator Syed Haydaitullah Shah has said that his party is committed to enforcement of Shariah in the country through a democratic and peaceful struggle.

“We are reorganising JUI-F in all 194 village and neighbourhood councils in the district to spread the party’s manifesto for the enforcement of Shariah across the country,” he said while addressing the party’s general council meeting here.

Mr Shah urged party workers to remain active in their respective village and neighbourhood councils and to spread the message of the party’s leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman in every nook and corner.

Party’s general secretary Maulana Nasir Mehmood said that members of the party’s Shura would visit village and neighbourhood councils to supervise reorganisation efforts.

“For the first time, we have devolved power to the grassroots level to better mobilise the public during times of political agitations and elections,” he added.

He said party workers and activists had been campaigning door-to-door to invite more and more people to join JUI-F and play an active role in the enforcement of Shariah.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2025