Azadi March gets a nod from govt but LHC restrains

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government on Wednesday decided to allow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to stage its Azadi March in the federal capital on Thursday (tomorrow). However, the Lahore High Court has barred the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) from holding any unconstitutional protest.

According to details, the government’s decision came after Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq had requested the prime minister to allow the PTI to hold a sit-in in Islamabad. Accepting Siraj’s request, Sharif told him on the phone that he was granting the permission only because of the JI chief and responsibility of maintaining law and order within PTI ranks would be his responsibility.

In Lahore, the LHC said that it could not allow PTI and PAT from going ahead with their protests in Islamabad keeping in view the sanctity of Independence Day and the current chaotic and uncertain situation prevailing in the country.

However, a defiant Imran Khan said that his party would march to Islamabad “come what may”.

“Under which law, 300 PTI workers have been detained by the government,” he asked. “We have not done anything unconstitutional,” he said, adding that PTI would present its demands within the framework of law and constitution.