“The freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions (Article 10A), encases the right to both profess a certain religion and not to do so. It also places a duty on the state not to interfere with the religious beliefs and ideologies of individuals,” said the judgment by the apex court’s three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani.
The apex court in its short order on March 20 had dismissed the petitions filed by the Sindh government against the Sindh High Court’s decision and directed the federal government to empower the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to carry out the delimitation of constituencies for local governments.
The court had also directed the Sindh government to make corresponding amendments in the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013.
The judgment said Article 19 (freedom of speech and expression) encased the right of an individual to express his views and opinions and engage in dialogue without fear of misplaced sanctions and state intervention, ‘but simultaneously the citizen possesses the right to remain silent’.
Does it apply to anti ahmadiyya clause of 1974 and ordinance of 1984?