Resuming the hearing of a suo motu notice over the sit-in, a two-member bench of Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faiz Isa also asked Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to re-submit a report, as it earlier failed to give a tangible report in pursuance of the court's earlier order.
Addressing the attorney general, the bench observed if the principal law officer is convinced after briefing of the spy agencies that facts are confidential in nature and needed to be dealt with in-camera, the court will consider the request.
The bench also asked the attorney general to assist the court on taking effective measures to regulate and control activities of social media in order to ensure protection of the country. During the course of proceedings, Justice Qazi Faiz Isa remarked that people are interested to know the motive behind the Faizabad sit-in, adding what was the income and source of earning of the protestors who managed to paralyze the life in the twin cities (Rawalpindi and Islamabad) for 17 days.
Justice Qazi Faiz Isa said while addressing the AGP whether he was sure that every organization was doing its job and questioned who would be responsible for loss of one child who died on way to hospital due to blockade of roads by the protestors?
Justice Qazi Faiz Isa said that every institution was under threat of the protesters but nobody is ready to speak the truth. He asked: The given critical situation what role did intelligence agencies, including the ISI, played?
Justice Qazi Faiz Isa remarked as to why money is spent on these secret agencies that do not know as to what is going on in the country, adding that Pakistan didn't come into existence due to army but as a result of a political movement of Muslims who rendered sacrifices for the homeland.
Justice Isa further observed that millions of peaceful protestors of All India Muslim League had struggled for the creation of Pakistan but these protestors had not taken law into their own hands. The attorney general said there is no question about the sacrifices rendered by the people for the creation of motherland, adding that intelligence agencies have also made sacrifices, saying questions should not be raised regarding one institution.
Justice Qazi Faiz Isa observed that majority of media was responsible but at the same time the bench said it has noted the PEMRA's soft corner to some black sheep in a certain section of media. The bench observed that PEMRA could not be non-functional in absence of its chairman, adding the authority is authorized to function without its head.
During the course of proceedings, the bench rejected the plea of Syed Iftikhar Gillani to become a party to the matter, saying if the court requires, it shall seek assistance of the learned lawyer.
The AGP told the bench that reports have been submitted before the bench in the current matter on behalf of Ministries of Defense and Interior, adding that that nine people in Punjab and three in Sindh lost their lives during the protests. He further said that a total of 194 police officers were injured in Islamabad whereas no security official was killed during the protest but one lost his eye. To which, Justice Qazi Faiz Isa remarked that that it was an attack on Muslims by Muslims.
Recalling the previous hearing, the bench said it had asked the authorities to explain the sources of income of the leaders of the protestors but nothing has been said in the submitted report. He asked whether there exists any cell in the ISI that can monitor such like activities.
Appearing on behalf of the Ministry of Defense, a representative said he can apprise the bench of sources of income of such leaders after seeking relevant information, to which Justice Qazi Faiz Isa observed then as to why a person was present in the court who cannot respond to the query of the court. Later, the hearing of matter was adjourned till first week of February.