ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday admitted the petition against Protection of Pakistan Act (PPA) and directed law and interior secretaries to respond within a week.

The petition was filed by MNA from Southern Punjab Jamshed Ahmed Khan Dasti.

Mr Dasti`s counsel advocate Saeed Khurshid adopted before the court that the government might use the Protection of Pakistan Act as a tool to suppress and victimise their political and ideological opponents.

The act has authorised a Grade-15 police officer to shoot any Pakistani whenever he or she feels reasonable apprehension of the commission of any schedule offence, the counsel said.

According to him, the objectives of PPA could be achieved by bringing slight changes in the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, the Prevention of Anti-National Activities Act 1974, the Security of Pakistan Act 1952, Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and the West Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960.

He requested the court to declare the act against the fundamental rights of the citizens and a `bad law`.

Advocate Khurshid also requested the court to suspend the PPA till final adjudication of the matter.

Additional Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Khokhar, representing the federal government, opposed the suspension of the law and said that in such cases, the superior court instead of giving interim relief in the shape of suspending legislation, pass a final verdict after hearing all the parties.

Khokhar wanted to argue merits of the petition but Justice Qureshi reminded him that since the petition has already been admitted for regular hearing and notices had been issued to the respondents therefore, Khokhar can argue his case at length on the next date of hearing.

The court would take up this matter after a fortnight.