ISLAMABAD, October 30: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday has ordered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold its protest at a designated location as a lockdown will not be allowed, meanwhile PTI said it would challenge the court’s order in the apex court.
Warning that demonstrations should not disrupt life for citizens, IHC judge Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui told the party to hold their anti-government protest at Parade Ground near Faizabad. The court noted that protesting is the fundamental right of all citizens, however, nobody can be compelled, pressurised and restrained to do what is not permissible under the law. “If any attempt to block or lockdown the ICT is made, the district administration shall act in accordance with law,” Justice Siddiqui said.
He added that district administration will remain within the limits of law, adding that it is bound to protect rights of citizens as well as to take all remedial steps to ensure fundamental rights. IHC reiterated its earlier order that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) should hold its planned sit in at ‘Democracy Park and Speech Corner’, located near Islamabad’s Parade Ground in Shakarparian.
Taking issue with this statement, Justice Siddiqui asked “Why did Imran say that he would not appear before the court and that he had talked to judge?”. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, remarked “Is only Imran Khan respectable in this country?” Imran had said that “I want to ask Justice Siddiqui, that when you made a decision and passed an order permitting us to hold a peaceful protest, and said that containers will not be placed, then why are our activists in jail?” the chief had said on Saturday during a press conference. Justice Siddiqui, responding to the Imran’s comment, asked, “Is this a way to talk, saying ‘Justice Siddiqui see how your order is being treated’?” Shaukat Siddiqui asked PTI chief to assure that his sit-in will be at a specific place without disturbing public peace and routine activity in the city. Later PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi claimed, “As Justice Siddiqui is relative of Irfan Siddiqui, the prime minister’s adviser, it would be better if he did not hear the case.”
“We have already asked our lawyers to prepare the petition saying we don’t think the judge should hear this case… And we will present it in the Supreme Court tomorrow,” he said, speaking to the press outside Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence in Islamabad. The IHC order came after Imran Khan asked the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of arrests of his party’s workers while speaking to the media outside Bani Gala.-Sabah
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