Govt seeks review of Faizabad sit-in decision.

ISLAMABAD -- The Ministry of Defence filed a review petition in Supreme Court against its judgment in Faizabad sit-in case.

'The direction to the Chiefs of the Armed Forces of Pakistan to take action 'against the personnel under their command who are found to have violated their oath' is vague and unenforceable,' said the review petition.

The 20-page petition added: 'The impugned judgement does not identify any official of the Armed Forces of Pakistan being involved in the sit-in or of maneuvering the outcome of General Elections of 2018 or of financing extremists or of curbing free speech or of interfering with press freedom.

'Compliance of this direction is impossible in the absences of any credible evidence and identification of any person, against whom such action is to be directed. This is an error floating on the surface of the Impugned Judgment and is liable to be corrected.'

It is submitted that to promote their own interest and further their designs several hostile foreign intelligence agencies have created a false perception against Pakistan and its Armed Forces of aiding and supporting extremist organisations, in the region.

'This false narrative has always been strongly controverted by Pakistan and its Armed Forces,' the petition said.

The impugned judgment, however, when read as whole, it is submitted with great respect, unfortunately lends credence to this false narrative and has adverse implications for the security of Pakistan.'

It contended that the impugned judgment displaces the image of the armed forces defending the country against menace of terrorism with the image of a force mired in politics, manipulating elections, subverting free speech, muzzling the press and funding extremists.

'Army successfully conducted large-scale operations against terrorism and as a result of which the terrorism have considerably reduced. These results have been achieved by an across the board support from all political parties, by Parliament and by the people of Pakistan. ' Further, and the most important, the Armed Forces of Pakistan draw comfort from and are heartened by the trust vested in them by the people of Pakistan.

'The impugned judgment, if not reviewed, can imperil this trust, demoralize the Armed Forces and provide both opportunity and ammunition to Pakistan's enemies, particularly India, in their false and pernicious propaganda against Pakistan.'

Before passing the judgment, no notice was issued to any member of the Armed...