Centre for Islamic Law & Human Rights

Justice (R) Haziq ul Khairi passed away today - he was the former Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court. Khairi also served as a member of the Council of Islamic Ideology where he served on the Legal Committee that helped draft the Women Protection Bill in 2006 that helped reform in .

He was the grandson of eminent British India social reformer, Allama Rashid ul Khairi. He served as a judge of the Sindh High Court before his elevation to the FSC and also as the Ombudsman of Sindh and Principal of Sindh Muslim Law College.

He was the chairman of the Thinker's Forum at Hamdard Shura Karachi and served on the Board of Governors of Habib University. He had previously served on the board of governors, board of trustees, council of trustees, and selection board of the International Islamic University.

A great loss and offer of condolences to his family and loved ones.

- the history of the institution from Swedish

Take a read and learn more about the from another jurisdiction that has impacted 's today.

Pakistan officially announces the welcoming of via the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee upon sighting the moon late Wednesday night.

1st of to be March 23, 2023 - to all those fasting and participating in spiritual rememberance this month.

The federal government has prepared a bill to amend the Pakistan Penal Code ( ) and the Code of Criminal Procedure ( ) where up to 5 year imprisonment will be awarded to whoever scandalizes or ridicules the Pakistan Army and judiciary through any medium.

The draft bill was vetted by the Ministry of Law and Justice and initiated by the Ministry of Interior. A cabinet summary in this regard outlines the aim of the the said bill stating the concern about the level of criticism on social media.

According to sources in the Ministry of Interior, the summary and the bill will be forwarded to the federal cabinet soon. Titled Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023, the bill suggests a new section 500A after section 500 in PPC 1860.

The new section is titled ‘Intentional ridiculing or scandalizing of the state institutions etc.’ It says that whoever makes, publishes, circulates any statement or disseminates information, through any medium, with an intention to ridicule or scandalise the judiciary, the armed forces or any of their member will be guilty of an offence punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with a fine which may extend to Rs. 1 million or with both.

The bill threatens basic fundamental rights under Article 19 of the Pakistan Constitution in respect to freedom of speech. Previous similar bill that was passed during the previous federal government was struck down by then IHC CJ Athar Minallah, who is now serving as a Supreme Court Judge.

The bill is expected to be passed and also be immediately challenged in the courts.

Waqar Zaka comes under fire from the FIA for allegedly running a scam with his Team Tenup. Apparently banking records show him funneling funds from accounts to family members. Investigation further on-going but the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant and he is on the run. Much was discovered due to the new Financial Monitoring Unit ("FMU") with the federal government - an addition to financial regulation due to FATF pressure starting in 2018.

He was a major advocate for in and most likely this case will slow down any meaningful progress for its regulation or acceptance.

Karachi court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Waqar Zaka in cryptocurrency scam case FIA says Zaka fraudulently and dishonestly committed the offences of virtual assets/cryptocurrency trading.

The ruling has been released!

- Chaudry Pervaz Elahi has been declared the Chief Minister of with immediate effect!
- Dost Mazari ruling as Dept. Speaker of Punjab Assembly overruled and set aside and declared null and void.
- Hamza Shahbaz Sharif to be removed along with entire cabinet or any appointments and any notifications issued are considered illegal.
- Governor of Punjab directed to give oath of office tonight and if not the President of Pakistan ordered to give oath.

determining that constitutional question around Art. 63A not resolved earlier by reading "Party Head" into direction for "Parliamentary Party" - a serious victory for and defeat of the rule of the few because Parliament reflects will of the people not an unelected Party Head.

Today a major crisis unfolded in the National Assembly where a pending was ended by the Deputy Speaker upon the motion presented by Fawad Chaudry that due to Article 5 consideration of loyalty to the State there has been some questions that have arisen due to a letter on March 7th that lends support to the idea of foreign meddling in internal Pakistan affairs.

The Dept. Speaker laid out this was a serious concern and issued that the No Confidence Motion is disallowed due to the taint and credible possibility that such a notion has foreign interference.

Opposition has challenged this move as unconstitutional and filed a petition with the Supreme Court to have a count. Additionally they held an assembly under Rule 13 and Rule 37(8) after it was ended by the Dept. Speaker and Ayaz Sadiq continued with only opposition members and voted with 195 to pass the no confidence motion. This will probably also be discussed in any future ruling.

What are your thoughts - were the actions of the speaker unconstitutional or not?