ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has termed the release of classified information as a violation of the Official Secrets Act and sa...
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has termed the release of classified information as a violation of the Official Secrets Act and said it was hoped that the Prime Minister would not divulge any information regarding Pakistan's national security.
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| Islamabad High Court issues order on citizen's request; file photo: AFP |
Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Atharmanullah heard the plea of citizen Muhammad Naeem Khan, in which it was said that the Prime Minister should be ordered to stop disclosing intelligence.
Read more: Case of 'threatening letter' against PM reaches Supreme Court
The court said in the order that it was hoped that the Prime Minister would not release any information in violation of the oath. The court hoped that the Prime Minister would not disclose anything like that.
The written order said that whatever the Prime Minister decides should be in accordance with the Official Secrets Act and his oath, the court is confident that the elected Prime Minister will not disclose any information in violation of the Official Secrets Act.
The order said the court was confident that the prime minister would not release any information against the national interest and national dignity.
The court said that issuing an unjustified restraining order would show distrust in the elected Prime Minister.
The order said that according to the petitioner, the no-confidence motion was also referred to the letter. Under Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act, the public office holder could not show the confidential document.
The written order said that the court hopes that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, as the head of state, would not show any such secret letter and any information which would inflame the national interest would not be disclosed.
The Islamabad High Court disposed of the petition with instructions to the parties.
Read also: Prime Minister Asad Umar ready to present 'threatening letter' in Supreme Court
It is to be noted that a petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court regarding the said letter and an inquiry has been requested into the alleged threatening letter.
The petition was filed by Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhatta, Advocate of the Supreme Court, in which the Federation has been made a party through the Secretary Law Division and Civil Secretariat.
The petition states that on March 27, a shocking and dangerous moment came when Prime Minister Imran Khan took a letter out of his pocket and waved it, claiming that it was "evidence" of an international conspiracy to overthrow his government. Being made for
The petition said that whatever the case may be, the process has raised suspicions among the people regarding friendly countries and the issue is under discussion as an attempt to control Pakistani politics.
The petitioner said that this situation is not normal but extraordinary which could lead to hatred against the countries which have embassies in Pakistan and could create law and order problem for us and friendly countries. Relationships can be embarrassing.
The petitioner petitioned the apex court that the matter needs immediate action so that the ordinary Pakistani can be freed from the mental anguish created by this situation.
The petition seeks that the parties be directed to hand over the letter which was waved by the Prime Minister at the meeting on March 27 to the concerned civil and military authorities for investigation.
Letter background
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Imran Khan, while addressing a rally at the Parade Ground in Islamabad on March 27, took out a letter from his pocket and said that the country was trying to change the government with the help of money from abroad. Has been threatened
He said that today I am suing the nation for the independence of Pakistan, I am not making allegations, the letter I have is proof and I want to say in front of everyone today that no one is doubting Yes, I will invite them to speak off the record and you can see for yourself what kind of talk I am talking about.
He said that he was speaking openly in front of everyone, there are many things on external conspiracy which will be brought to light in due course and very soon, the nation wants to know with whom he is sitting in London. And the characters sitting in Pakistan are running on whose orders.
However, Prime Minister Imran Khan took a letter out of his pocket on this occasion, waved it in front of the people and put it back without reading it.
Surprisingly, Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid had expressed ignorance regarding any letter.
Also read: We have been threatened in writing, an attempt is being made to change the government from outside, Prime Minister
However, during a news conference with Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry yesterday, Federal Minister Asad Umar had said that some people are saying why we are not being given the letter, some secrets are of national nature, the Prime Minister has told me that If anyone has any doubt, we are ready to show this letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, everyone trusts him.
He said that he was not allowed to repeat the words written in the letter but would repeat the key points that the date of this letter is before the motion of no confidence was introduced. Trust is mentioned.
Asad Umar had said that the important thing is that the letter bluntly states that if the no-confidence motion is not successful and Imran Khan remains the Prime Minister, the consequences will be dangerous.
Asad Omar had said that due to legal restrictions, the letter had been shared only with the top military leadership and some members of the cabinet, so the Prime Minister has asked for it to be presented in the Supreme Court.
The Federal Minister further said that while the letter was directly referring to Pakistan's foreign policy, it was clear that the message conveyed in the letter was that the no-confidence motion and external hands were intertwined.
Read more: 'Why didn't the Prime Minister dare to say who wrote the letter to him and what threatened him'
He also said that there is no doubt that Nawaz Sharif is involved in the letter who is holding meetings in London, with whom Nawaz Sharif has been meeting, the Prime Minister will give details whenever he wants The DM's senior leadership is not unaware of this.
On this occasion, Fawad Chaudhry said that Nawaz Sharif has had many meetings in London and those meetings have also been reported in which he has also met the Israeli diplomat, then we have received this letter. In which the no-confidence motion is mentioned while this letter is from before the no-confidence motion was submitted and this is a matter of concern.
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