SC judge directs govt to formulate policy on status of Bengali-origin-Pakistanis

The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday dismissed a petition filed by Bengali-origin Maulana Azizul Haq challenging the removal of his name from the voter list. 

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, a five-member constitutional bench of the SC headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the case.

During the hearing, Justice Jamal Mandokhel raised concerns over the uncertain status of Bengali-origin Pakistanis, remarking that they are neither fully accepted as Pakistani citizens nor formally rejected. He emphasized that the government must formulate a clear policy on their legal status.

Justice Mandokhel stated, "If the government wants to expel them, it should do so, and if it wants to retain them, it must ensure their rights. But discriminatory treatment cannot continue."

In his petition, Maulana Azizul Haq argued that the Election Act 2017 contradicts the Objectives Resolution presented by Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan. 

He claimed to be a legal Pakistani citizen since his birth in 1952 and mentioned that he had received a CNIC in 1978, which was renewed in 2004, and that he was also registered in the voter list in 2014.

However, when Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi inquired about the issuance of identity cards to his children, Maulana Azizul Haq said that only those who acknowledge the division of Pakistan and accept Bangladesh as a separate country are granted ID cards.

During the proceedings, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar recalled that similar cases had been presented before the Sindh High Court, where clear directives were issued regarding such matters.

As Maulana Azizul Haq continued with political statements, the Supreme Court concluded the hearing and dismissed his petition, upholding the removal of his name from the voter list.