Now it has become mandatory for the govt to end interest: Anwar Mansoor Khan
ISLAMABAD, Dec 01 (SABAH): The Federal Shariat Court (FSC) will continue hearing the petitions filed against interest today (Thursday). During his arguments on Wednesday amicus cure and former attorney general for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan said that the Federal Shariat Court enjoys the authority to hear cases against the interest system, adding that the constitutions enforced in country from 1965 till date talk about abolishing the interest system and now it has become mandatory for the government to end the interest.
Meanwhile Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Sirajul Haq in his arguments said that this case is pending in the court from last 30 years, adding that now the court should show courage like 1991 and should deliver the judgment in this case, adding that the masses have high hopes from this court.
Three member bench of the FSC headed by Chief Justice Noor Muhammad Muskanzai and comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Anwar and Justice Khadim Hussain heard the case. During the hearing former attorney general for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan and Emir JI Pakistan Sirajul Haq presented their arguments.
Anwar Mansoor Khan in his arguments said that according to Article F-38 of the Constitution, end of the interest is the policy matter, adding that now it has become mandatory on the state to end interest, adding that 10 years time was fixed for the constitutionalists, adding that the Article 3 of the Constitution bounds the government to end exploitation. He said that in an order issued in 2015 it was said that the government should take steps for ending the interest system and submits report in the court. He said that it is written in the Preamble of the Constitution that all the elected democratic governments will make laws while remaining under the ambit of the shariat, adding that no government enjoys authority to overstep the limits of shariat. Anwar Mansoor Khan said that Pakistan is the only country which has given the idea of Islamic Democratic State, which was also followed by Libya. He said that it is mandatory on the state to end the interest system as soon as possible and enforce the system of Zakat and Ushar.
During this with the permission of court, Sirajul Haq in his arguments said that the interest system is continued in the country from last 74 years, adding that the finance minister has confessed that the difference between the rich and the poor is increasing, bani Israel nation was destroyed because it did not fully follow the law of Almighty Allah. He said that due to the interest system the economy of the country has been destroyed. Sirajul Haq argued that we have paid over Rs 33,000 billion in form of interest, adding that the situation has reached at a position that now our one friend has given charity on the interest. He said that the rulers did not take any step until and unless the masses come on the roads and block the roads, adding that many countries including Japan are moving towards interest free system.
Former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan said that he will complete his arguments by tomorrow (Friday). The court adjourned the hearing of the case till 10:00 AM today (Thursday).