IHC stops district administration, police from arresting PTI workers; says PTI should avoid pursuing any ‘violent policy’
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has restrained Islamabad district management and police from arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers without district magistrate orders.
An IHC single bench led by Justice Athar Minallah Friday gave these orders during the hearing of petition filed by PTI lawmaker Asad Omar in connection with the party’s November 30 public meeting.
PTI counsels Farrukh Dall, Malik Waqas, Niazullah Niazi, Raja Aftab, MNA Asad Omar, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Faisal Rafiq, Chief Election Commissioner Director Protocol Mushtaq Ahmad appeared in the court.
POLICE HARRASSING PTI WORKERS:
A petition filed by PTI General Secretary Jahangir Tareen also came up for hearing. PTI counsels told the court that PTI is going to hold a large public meeting in Islamabad on November 30 but police is harassing the people to prevent them from attending the public meeting.
Niazi told the court that people in large number will come from other provinces to attend the public meeting on November 30 but Islamabad police has blocked the different entry points of Islamabad by placing containers there.
Justice Minallah remarked that “maintaining law and order is the responsibility of district administration and the court cannot interfere in the affairs of the district administration”. PTI is a political party and it should also care for the fundamental rights of the people, said the judge.
The court remarked, “The court had issued orders during PTI’s Azadi March in August that containers should not be placed and PTI workers should not be harassed. PTI had also assured the court it would not take the law into its hands during the march.”
Unfortunately PTV and other state buildings were attacked and sorrowful incidents took place, the judge said.
PTI should avoid pursuing any violent policy, said the judge.
The hearing of the case was adjourned indefinitely.
