The Islamabad High Court has said that the protestors should be given a suitable place to protest, and Article 144 should be implemented.
Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Justice Aamir Farooq heard the petition filed by the businessmen of Islamabad to stop the protest in Islamabad, in which the court summoned the Interior Secretary in his personal capacity.
When the hearing started, the court asked the petitioner’s lawyer if there was any urgency, to which the lawyer Raja Inam Amin told that the whole of Islamabad has been closed for 2 days, business is closed. There are exams for children, daily traffic of one and a half lakh people. The Chief Justice remarked that I can understand the situation, I myself have passed through the containers.
The lawyer said that the conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is also going to be held, to which the court said that the conference is still a week away. One thing everyone should remember is that every citizen has rights. Along with the rights of a citizen, the rights of others have to be taken care of. It is the government’s job to maintain the law and order situation.
Chief Justice Amir Farooq called Advocate General Islamabad to the rostrum and asked the Interior Secretary to appear in the court somewhere. Also ask a responsible police officer to appear. It may not be appropriate to call the interior minister, but if there is, then call him too. Court cannot give any direction to PTI. I can issue orders to government agencies to protect the rights of citizens. Mobile signals are off for 2 days, what will happen if someone has an emergency?
Later, when the case was heard again, the Chief Justice inquired as to why he had closed the entire city, to which Interior Secretary Khurram Ali Agha replied that the Prime Minister of Malaysia was in Islamabad yesterday. There is a law for protest in Islamabad. An important Saudi delegation is also reaching Pakistan in three to four days. The meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a matter of pride for Pakistan.
Chief Justice Aamir Farooq remarked that you are the government and your job is to ensure equal rights. It is the duty of the government to ensure equal rights of the citizens. The Islamabad High Court directed the Interior Secretary to take immediate steps to bring the situation back to normal.
The Chief Justice said that I will pass the order today and adjourn the case for next week. I hope things will be back to normal when we come back on Monday.
The Chief Justice remarked that no one has the right to gather in the middle of the road and block my way. Give them proper space to protest or do whatever they want. The Chief Justice while talking to the Home Secretary said that this is your job and you have to do it.
Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court said that protest is a fundamental right, protestors should do what they are protesting. At the moment, the city seems to be in a state of war. Mobile service is down, no one can contact anyone in an emergency. You take appropriate steps and clear Islamabad. Delegations are coming to Pakistan, if any untoward incident happens, the Ministry of Interior will be responsible. You have also called the army? Armed forces assist civil authorities? Section 144 is in force so ensure that it is fully implemented.
The interior secretary said that the interior minister made the request very gently but the chief minister KP is stubborn. Chief Minister KP is coming with heavy government machinery. Many government machinery has been damaged and burnt.
The Chief Justice said that those who are protesting are also citizens of Pakistan, you have to protect their lives as well. If their actions endanger the life of someone else, it is illegal. You have a very difficult task but you are in a very important position. Tell the interior minister that you have to keep this balance. There is a curfew situation in the city. You have to take steps to bring things back to normal. You have to ensure that Islamabad is a peaceful city. What are we going to show the foreign delegations coming? What will be the image of Pakistan if we show them Islamabad full of containers. There is no need for the direction of this court, it is your job.
Earlier, the businessmen of the federal capital had decided to approach the Islamabad High Court against the PTI protest.
A petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court by the Blue Area Traders Union to stop the ongoing protest in Islamabad, in which the court was requested to order the Islamabad High Court to constitute a bench today and order the government that Islam Abad should be cleared of protesters.
The petition has further requested that after the implementation of Article 245 in Islamabad, the army has arrived, so to avoid any untoward incident, the Islamabad High Court should issue the order today.
