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LHC overrules objections on plea concerning peace talksLAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday overruled objections raised by the registrar office and order to fix for hearing a petition seeking direction for the federal government to hold dialogue with the Taliban after letting them open their office in Pakistan.
The registrar office had raised the objections that the court cannot interfere in policy matters of the state and the subject matter is not a constitutional violation.
On October 23, 2013, the chief justice had turned down the request to issue directions to the federal government to hold dialogue with the Taliban and allow them to open an office in the country with remarks that it was a policy matter and the court could not interfere in it.
The chief justice also observed that the All Parties Conference had already passed a resolution in this regard and that there are democratic institutions to deal with this matter.
Khashif Mehmood Sulemani had filed the petition. The federation of Pakistan, Interior Ministry, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance were made respondents in this petition.
The petitioner submitted that since 9/11, when Pakistan became an ally of the US in war on terror, Pakistan had suffered a huge loss to its economy. He said that the country had also suffered a lot on account of loss of human lives.
He said that Pakistan continued to pay heavy price in terms of both economy and security and a large portion of its resources, both men and material, are being consumed by this war for the last several years.
He said that the US had earlier wanted to crush terrorism but now it was bent upon holding dialogue with the Taliban. He said that similarly surgical strikes against Taliban in Pakistan without dialogue are “grave error” for peace and causing economic crisis in Pakistan.
The petitioner said that to again bring peace and development in the country, the respondents might be directed to hold dialogue with Taliban to ensure peace in the country. He said that a Taliban office would facilitate the dialogue process and help bring peace in the country. He said that the Pakistani leadership should give dialogue a chance to deal with terrorism.
He said that according to the Charter of United Nations Organisation, no sanctions could be imposed on Pakistan for holding dialogue with the Taliban.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk