Justice ShaukaT Aziz Siddiqui is consistent, if nothing else. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge, after all, was the gentleman who came up with the idea of making a declaration of faith mandatory to holding public office. Indeed, some viewed this as an opportunistic move, coming as it did hot on the heels of the contrived Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (Finality of Prophet-hood) controversy. None of which has been good news for Pakistan’s beleaguered Ahmadi community. Presently, Justice Siddiqui has turned his attention to the broadcast media and what he sees as the latter’s duty to preserve the sanctity of the holy month of Ramazan; which is just around the corner. To be sure there is nothing wrong with advising channels against undue sensationalism. Especially keeping in mind performances by anchors such as the new PTI kid on the block, Aamir Liaquat. Among the latter’s ‘best’ moments was overseeing a religious conversion live on air. Yet, for many, the IHC judge may have overstepped the mark. At least, technically speaking. He has, after all, directed PEMRA to ensure that television channels give the five calls to prayer during the period of Ramazan. There are to be no advertisements in the five minutes or so before Maghreb prayers. Only the Darood Sharif or dua are permitted. We, here at Daily Times, stand with the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), which has reminded the IHC that PEMRA, being the regulatory body, ought to be allowed to do its job. And that the courts should only intervene in the event that it fails to uphold its own code of ethics. Thus the question remains: to what extent do Pakistan’s state institutions feel the need to remind everyone that this is an Islamic Republic? Is it not enough that this government was left alone to be held hostage to a religious right-wing agenda? That it turned to appeasement by offering this group the then Law minister’s head-on-a-stick? Is it not enough that these are the same zealots who successfully incited an individual to take a bullet to the Interior minister, by crying blasphemy? And what of Pakistan’s minorities? How are they supposed to feel as the breathing space for religious pluralism is increasingly suffocated? Following last year’s passing of the Ehtram-e-Ramazan (Amendment) Bill 2017, non-Muslims are under even greater pressure to refrain from eating, drinking or smoking in public. That is, they are being coerced into following the edicts of a religion they do not follow. Never mind that Article 3 of the original Ordinance, introduced by Gen Zia back in 1981, clearly stipulates that these provisions remain incumbent on those upon whom the tenets of Islam apply. Under these circumstances, what could have been more welcomed than if Justice Siddiqui had taken up the issue of minorities within the context of sparing them from these rules; while warning against vigilante activism in this regard? Especially while recalling the case of Gokal Das, an elderly Hindu gentleman who was beaten up by a policeman back in 2016 for eating in public. He was diabetic. There is no compulsion in religion. Sadly, Justice Siddiqui has still to get this memo. *