Man Summoned By JuD ‘Sharia Court’ Moves LHC

A property developer summoned by ‘Shariat Court’ of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) on a complaint regarding a monetary dispute has moved the Lahore High Court, seeking action against Qazi (judge) of the organisation’s ‘court’ for running a parallel judicial system.

Khalid Saeed of Samanabad has made interior secretary, federal law minister, Punjab chief secretary, Punjab IG, Lahore CCPO and Qazi Hafiz Idrees of JuD parties in the petition filed through Advocate Maqbool Hussain Sheikh. The petitioner says he received summons written on the letter pad of ‘Darul Qaza Al-Sharia’ Jamat-ud-Dawa, Masjid Al-Qadsia, Chauburji, Lahore, with a direction to appear before its ‘arbitration court of Sharia’. 

He says the summons was issued to him on the complaint of Muhammad Azam. The summons warned that in case of non-appearance no excuse would be considered and the petitioner would be proceeded against in accordance with Sharia law, the petition stated. He alleged that he also received telephone calls from the JuD “court” Qazi in “threatening tone”, asking him to appear before him. He said that applications were submitted to the government functionaries (respondents) and Chief Justice of Pakistan against the illegal summons but remained unanswered. 

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The petitioner urged the court to order the respondent authorities to look into the matter and take action against the organisation for committing illegal acts and for subverting the Constitution by establishing a parallel judicial system. Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan issued notices to the respondents for April 26.