PHC orders home dept to decide Sherjahan’s appeal in 30 days
SWAT: Peshawar High Court (PHC) Swat bench (Darul Qaza) on Thursday directed the home department of KP to decide the appeal of Sherjahan Sahil against placing of his name on Schedule IV of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 within a month.
Taking up a petition of Sahil filed by his lawyer Rahimullah Chitrali, a bench comprising Justice Wiqar Ahmed and Justice Syed Arshad Ali asked the advocate general of KP about the ground on the basis of which the young social media activist from Garam Chashma was placed on the terror watch list.
When the advocate general could not present a satisfactory reply, the court asked the defence lawyer if an application had been filed with the home department, a lawyer told ChitralToday.
The court was informed by the defence counsel that the application had been filed on May 5 but so far the home department has not given a response. The court then asked the government lawyer about the reasons.
The advocate general said due to the COVID-19 pandemic the process got delayed. The bench then directed the home department to decide the matter in 30 days.
The court also asked the defence to file an appeal if the home department did not come up with a decision in a month.
The court said in case of the failure of the home department to pronounce a decision within this period the court would give its judgement.
Sherjahan Sahil was placed on the fourth schedule of the ATA in April 2020 by the Chitral police for allegedly trying to create hatred among different communities and under other charges.