Pak court notice to JuD for running ‘Shariah court’

ISLAMABAD: The Lahore high court has sought an explanation from the Jamaat-ud-Dawah and government officials after a businessman complained he had been summoned by a JuD “Shariah” court to settle a property dispute.

Property developer Khalid Saeed, a resident of Lahore, told the high court he had received a summons on the letterhead of the “Darul Qaza Al-Sharia’ Jamaatud-Dawah, Masjid Al-Qadsia, Chauburji, Lahore” with a direction to appear before its “arbitration court of Shariah.”

Saeed said he had approached the high court to seek action against the Qazi or judge of the JuD court for running a parallel judicial system.

In his petition, Saeed said the summons was issued after another person with whom he had a monetary and property dispute approached the JuD court. Saeed said the JuD warned him no excuse would be considered if he failed to appear and that action would be taken against in accordance with Shariah or Islamic law.

He alleged he had also received “threatening” telephone calls from the JuD court’s “Qazi”, asking him to appear.

Saeed named the interior secretary, federal law minister, Punjab chief secretary, Punjab police chief, Lahore city police chief and Qazi Hafiz Idrees of JuD.

Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan asked the respondents to appear on April 26.