Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court has upheld the Punjab government’s decision to ban the 23-volume publication Rohani Khazayeen, dismissing petitions that challenged the action.
The court ruled that the constitutional right to religious freedom under Article 20 is subject to law, public policy and morality. It also upheld the order for copies of the publication to be forfeited under the relevant legal provisions.
The case involved a publication associated with the Ahmadiyya community and the government’s decision to restrict its circulation. An Ulema board had recommended the action, expressing the view that the material could contribute to hatred within the Muslim community.
After reviewing the petitions, the court found no grounds to interfere with the government’s action and dismissed the challenges.
The court also refused leave to appeal, leaving the ban in place. The ruling highlights the legal limits placed on religious expression under Pakistan’s constitutional framework and the role of public policy and other legal considerations in such cases.
The decision has brought the publication’s legal status back into focus, with the court maintaining the restrictions imposed by the Punjab government.
