ہائیکورٹ کے جسٹس علی باقر نجفی کا قومی پرچم سے متعلق تاریخی فیصلہ

 لاہور ہائیکورٹ نے مختلف رنگوں میں اور کپڑوں پر پرنٹنگ کو قومی پرچم کی توہین قرار دے دیا۔ پاکستان پینل کوڈ 1860 کے سیکشن 123بی کے تحت قومی پرچم کی توہین کرنے کی سزا تین سال ہے۔ جسٹس علی باقر نجفی نے سات صفحات پر فیصلہ جاری کر دیا۔ پاکستان کے قومی پرچم کی اپنی اہمیت اور تاریخ ہے۔ ہمارا پرچم آزادی، برابری کی نشاہدہی ہے جو کہ شہری کے حقوق کا تحفظ کرتا ہے۔ قومی پرچم ایسی ریاست کی نمائندگی کرتا ہے جہاں کسی خاص طبقے کو خاص حقوق حاصل نہیں بلکہ سب کو برستی کی سطح پر کامیابی کا موقع فراہم کرتا ہے۔ قومی پرچم کا تین چوتھائی حصہ گہرا سبز جبکہ باقی سفید اورسبز رنگ میں چاند ستارے ہے۔ جھنڈے کا ایک چوتھائی حصہ سفید جبکہ 3 چوتھائی حصہ سبز ہے۔ عدالت نے اپنے فیصلے میں قومی پرچم کی تصویر کشی بھی کر دی۔ قومی پرچم کے پروٹوکول کے مطابق اسے زمین پر نہیں گرنا چاہیے اور نا ہی جوتے سے ٹچ کرنا چاہیے۔ قومی پرچم گندی جگہ پر نہیں رکھنا چاہیے۔ قومی پرچم کو اندھیرے میں نہیں لہرانا چاہیے۔ قومی پرچم کو جلانا نہیں چاہیے۔ جب پرچم کشائی یا اترا جائے تو سلیوٹ کیا جانا چاہیے۔ 

In  the  Pakistan Penal  Code,  1860  section  123-B  defines the  defilement  of  the  national  flag  an offence punishable with 3  years’ imprisonment.  

Importantly,  our  flag  of  a  crescent and  star  (Parcham-E-Sitar-O-Hilal),  like other  national  flags  of  any  nation,  has  a unique  importance  for  it  symbolizes  our history,  present  as  well  as  the  national policy.   It  traces  its  roots  from  the  battles in  the  initial  days  of  Islam  when  Parchame-Islam  was  bestowed  by  the  Holy  Prophet (P.B.U.H)  to  Hazrat  Ali  (A.S)  on  the occasion  of  Badar,  Khandaq  and  Ohad,  is still  being  held  high  in  the  memory  of Parcham-e-Abbas  (A.S)  as  a  sign  of Bravery.  Our  Parcham  stands  for  freedom, liberty  and  equality  for  those  who  owe allegiance  to  it.  It  protects  the  legitimate rights  of  every  citizen  and  up  hold  the integrity  of  the  State  of  Pakistan.  It  is  a mark  that  helps  in  maintaining  peace throughout  the  world.  It  represents  a  State which  has  no  special  privileges  or  special rights  for  any  particular  community  or interest  but  a  State  where  citizens  will have  equal  rights  and  equal  opportunities and  their  share  in  privileges  will  be proportionate  to  their  corresponding responsibilities.  Our  Pacham  is  not  merely a  piece  of  cloth.    The  white  and  dark  green field  represents  peace  and  prosperity,  the crescent  on  the  flag  progress  and  the  fiverayed  star  signifies  light  and  knowledge which  symbolizes  the  Five  Most  Holy Personalities (Panjtan-e-Pak  A.S).  Of course,  the  religious  minorities  of  Pakistan have  significant  place  in  the  flag  duly acknowledged  in  the  white  colour. 

As to the  specification,  the Pakistani  Flag  is  a  dark  green,  rectangular flag  in  the  proportion  of  3  x  2  with  a  white vertical  bar,  showing  white  crescent  in  the center  and  a  five-pointed  heraldic  star.  The size  of  the  white  portion  is  1/4th  size  of  the flag.  Since  the  mast,  the  remainder  is 3/4th  being  dark  green.  The  dimensions  of the  five-pointed  white  heraldic  star  are determined  by  drawing  a  circle  with  radius    equal  to  1/10th   of      the  width  of the  flag.  Our  flag  is  designed  by  Syed Amir-U-Din  Kadwai  and  was  stitched  by Master  Afzal  Hussain.   Today  it  is  always held  by  the  most  pious  and  brave  person who  can  protect  it. 

Our  highest  esteem  for  the Parcham  is  visible  from  two  important occasions;  i.e.  when  in  the  month  of August,  2004  a  173,400  sq.ft.  Parcham was  unfurled  at  the  National  Stadium Karachi  and  then  on  22nd  October,  2012, 24,200  people  gathered  in  a  stadium  at Lahore  to  form  the  Parcham  and  set  a  new world  record  of  world’s  largest  national  flag comprised  of  humans,  certified  by  the Guinness  World  Records.    And  then  on 15th  February,  2014,  total  29040  people gathered  again  in  Lahore  Stadium  and  got improved  their  own  record  of  largest  flag comprised  of  human  beings.

According  to  the  National  Flag Protocols  prescribed  officially,  it  must  not touch  the  ground,  shoes  or  feet  or anything  unclean  and  must  not  be  flown in  the  darkness  and  must  not  be  marked with  anything  (including  words,  numerals or  images)  and  when  raised  or  lowered  it must  be  saluted  by  all  in  uniform  and  the others  must stand  in attention.  It  must not fly  or  be  displayed  upside  down  or  with  a crescent  and  star     facing     left.     It     must not  be  displayed  where  it  is  likely  to  get dirty.   It  must  not  be  set  on  fire  or trampled  upon.    It  must  not  be  buried  or lowered  into  a  grave.   In  the  Pakistan Penal  Code,  1860  section  123-B  defines the  defilement  of  the  national  flag  an offence punishable with 3  years’ imprisonment.  Obviously,  the  printing  of flags  in  different  colours,  on  distorted shaped  portraits,  in  ugly  cartoons,  its disgraceful  imprint  on  cloths  undermining the  national  dignity  may  be  considered defilement. 