Ban on JUI-F's Ansarul Islam infructuous: IHC.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday termed the recent government decision to ban Jamaat-e-Ulema-i-Islami-Fazl (JUI-Fl) subordinate organisation Ansarul Islam infructuous.

The single-judge bench presided by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, while hearing a petition challenging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government's decision, summoned the interior ministry to explain how the federal government could ban an organisation that does not exist on paper.

JUI-F counsel Kamran Murtaza Advocate informed the high court that while JUI-F was registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as a political party, Ansarul Islam was not a 'private militia' as stated by the government but a subordinate of Jamaat-e-Ulema-Islami (JUI) that has been operating since the era of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Justice Athar Minallah said if the Ansarul Islam workers were members of a political party then the notification to ban them was infructuous. When he noted that the Ansarul Islam workers held 'sticks' in their hands, Murtaza said the sticks were part of the flags.

The political party's counsel further informed the bench that the federal government had issued a notification without first giving Ansarul Islam an audience.

The chief justice questioned how...