The urban development minister Mohd Azam Khan on Friday said that the Samajwadi Party government was committed to the release of innocent youth arrested of the charges of terrorism.
Reacting to the High Court order staying the move to withdraw terror cases, Khan said the government had not simply completing formalities in the matter but was serious about it.
“The government is serious and its intention is to ensure release of innocent people at the earliest,” Khan said in a statement.
Asserting that the government was not going to backtrack on its decision, Khan said quick and effective measures would be taken in court for its implementation.
Pointing out that the government would examine its shortcomings in presenting its side in the court, Khan said corrective measures would be taken to effectively take up the issue in court.
Laying stress on harsh punishment to real terrorists, Khan said innocent people should not suffer for political or other reasons.
Referring to the discharge of BJP general secretary Varun Gandhi in hate speech cases in Pilibhit, Khan said it was indeed shameful that 88 witnesses turned hostile in the case.
Talking to HT, additional advocate general Zafaryab Jilani said after going through the order, which was yet to be posted on the court website, the government would decide whether to go to the Supreme Court or approach the higher bench in Lucknow.
{{/usCountry}}Talking to HT, additional advocate general Zafaryab Jilani said after going through the order, which was yet to be posted on the court website, the government would decide whether to go to the Supreme Court or approach the higher bench in Lucknow.
{{/usCountry}}He also said the court was likely to issue an order on Monday.
The terror issue, which has been chasing the minority community, has already snowballed into a major political controversy.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has also taken up the matter. Board spokesman Qasim Rasool Ilyas said the government did not pursue the case seriously in court.
He said all technical aspects of the case, including involvement of the central government, should have been properly covered.
Ilyas also said the Justice RD Nimesh commission report, which was the basis of withdrawal of cases, should also have been presented before the court.
The board is also scheduled to take up the terror issue, including the custodial death of Khalid Mujahid at its working committee meeting in Delhi on June 22.