High Court Summons Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar Over Alleged Quran Translation Distortions

High Court Summons Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar Over Alleged Quran Translation Distortions

High Court’s Dissatisfaction Over Lack of Progress

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of progress in the case of an alleged misinterpretation of the Holy Quran. The court has summoned several top officials including caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar, the attorney general, and other key officials to appear in court on October 15. The court questioned why the issue had not been brought to the caretaker Prime Minister’s attention, expressing concerns about the apparent lack of seriousness in implementing the court order by government institutions and officials.

Alleged Distortions in the Translation of the Holy Quran

The case revolves around allegations of distortions in the translation of the Holy Quran and its unauthorised printing, allegedly carried out without the permission of the Quran Board. According to a petition filed by Hassan Muawiyah, distorted translations of the Holy Quran are being published and uploaded on the internet, misleading Muslims. The petitioner alleges that despite the court’s 2019 judgement ordering the authorities to ensure that copies of the Holy Quran are approved by the Quran Board before printing and uploading on the internet, this has not been carried out.

Government’s Role in Monitoring Quran Publication

The court had previously ordered the government and the Quran Board to monitor the publication of any religious material, particularly the Holy Quran, to cross-check it against its original text or authentic meaning. There was to be a vigilant eye on the printing of any religious material, especially the Holy Quran, to ensure verification of its original text and authentic meaning. It was alleged that the government does not seem serious about implementing this order.

Summoning of Top Officials

The court has summoned the Caretaker Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Punjab, and Advocate General Punjab in a personal capacity on October 15 to explain their stance on the matter. The court has expressed its annoyance at the lack of a progress report and the apparent indifference of the authorities towards implementing the court order. The court has also directed the attorney general to appear for assistance during the hearing.

Petitioner’s Grievances

The petitioner, Hassan Muawiyah, has alleged that the Ahmadi community and other non-Muslims continue to publish and upload distorted versions of the Quran on the internet and Google Play Store, with the intent to mislead Muslims. He stated that he had filed several complaints with the Home Department and police authorities for action to be taken against those responsible, based on the 2019 judgement. However, he asserts that his applications have been largely ignored, violating both the law and the court’s decision.

Future Court Proceedings

In light of these allegations and the apparent lack of action by the authorities, the Lahore High Court has adjourned the hearing till November 30. The court has directed the concerned authorities to submit a compliance report at the next hearing. The upcoming court proceedings will likely shed more light on the government’s stance and actions regarding the alleged distortions in the translation of the Holy Quran.