Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif on Friday issued show cause notice to the secretary interior who failed to submit reply in a petition against presence and illegal activities of Blackwater and Dutch nationals in Pakistan. The CJ also warned the secretary interior that if he does not submit reply by December 14 he would be prosecuted under contempt of court law.
The CJ had sought reply twice from the interior ministry but he failed to comply with the orders of the court. On previous hearing, the CJ had sought replies from the interior ministry and the Inspector General Islamabad. The CJ has also called a detailed report from the foreign ministry on Watan Party's plea to pass an order for the search of American Embassy to recover illegal weapons. The CJ was displeased when it transpired that IG Islamabad has submitted his reply but he did not sign the same.
"Is this the way to address the court. It seems that all ineligible persons have been given job in police department," the CJ said. He then returned the reply to additional IG and directed him to submit it in a proper way. Watan Party Pakistan through its Punjab Chapter president Hashim Shaukat Khan had filed the petition.
Barrister Zafarullah Khan on behalf of the Party contended that American and Dutch nationals roaming the streets of the Capital with sophisticated weapons and harassing local people as well as police personnel. He pointed out that the Director General ISI had brought to the notice of the CIA chief who visited Pakistan last month that American intelligence agency was involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Barrister Zafarullah alleged that hundreds of members of Blackwater landed at Islamabad Airport and were allowed exit unchecked. He pleaded that even under article 29 of the Vienna Convention 1961 diplomats did not enjoy any immunity for criminal activities. He asked the court to direct the authorities concerned to register criminal cases against all foreign nationals who were apprehended with unlicensed weapons.
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