LAHORE-
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday rejected the government’s option to hold ‘Azadi March’ to a safe and protected venue, a private news channel reported.
A larger bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday asked Ahmed Owais, advocate of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) if it was acceptable for PTI Chief Imran Khan to hold the ‘Azadi March’ at a ‘protected venue.’
The three-member bench, comprising of Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan, Justice Shahid Hameed and Justice Anwarul Haq were hearing a case on petition challenging the Azadi March to Islamabad on August 14.
The petitioner, Muhammad Kamran, states that the protest would promote anarchy in the country.
During today hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Salman Butt said that the decided venue for the ‘Azadi March’ at Kashmir Chowk comes within the Red Zone, which is highly sensitive. He contended that PTI should shift the venue for its march and sit-in to the sports complex in Faizabad.
Owais was directed by the bench to inquire from Khan if a special and protected venue would be acceptable for the march.
The counsel was given time until 12 noon to submit the reply from Khan.
Owais informed the court after 12pm that the PTI chief refuses to shift the venue for the march but assures that the march, from zero point to Kashmir Chowk, would be peaceful.