The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought reply from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and federal government on a petition seeking action against party chief Imran Khan over his hateful speeches against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Justice Shahid Waheed of the high court took up the petition and adjourned the hearing till June 15, while issuing notices to the PTI and federal government.
The petitioner, Atif Sattar, a local resident, through his counsel AK Dogar, submitted that Imran Khan was making hateful speeches and demanding Prime Minister Sharif’s resignation which was a violation of articles 5, 7 and 90 of the constitution.
He pointed out that a full bench of the LHC had already on August 13, 2014 put the PTI on notice when the party in collaboration with the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) was on its way to hold a long march and a sit-in in Islamabad.
The petitioner stated that in the recent past when two offshore companies were unearthed in the name of prime minister’s children, Imran Khan demanded him to step down and alleged that he had lost moral justification to stay in the office.
He argued that it was self evident from a cursory glance at the observation of the Supreme Court of Pakistan handed down by an 11-judge bench that anyone who causes clear danger, riot, disorder, interference with traffic upon the public streets must be restrained and prevented from such activity and the state has the power to prevent or punish which is so obvious.
The petitioner contended that under Article 17 (2), it is the duty of the federal government to declare that a political party had been formed or is operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan and within fifteen days of such declaration, refer the matter to the Supreme Court whose decision on such reference shall be final, therefore, no further comment on this aspect of the case lest it may cause prejudice to any of the parties, is called for.
The petitioner requested the court to direct the federal government to declare Imran Khan guilty of inciting hatred and disturbing peace, public order as well as sovereignty and integrity of the country and refer the matter to the Supreme Court for final decision.