ISLAMABAD: Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have filed petitions in the Supreme Court, urging it to review its Feb 6 verdict in the case that alludes to both parties protests in 2007 and 2014, respectively.
The PTI plea urged the court to review its order, especially its paragraph 22. The PTI in its plea said that SC should review its verdict as it has mentioned the party’s 2014 sit-in in the decision.
Para 22 of the verdict read: “PTI, PAT and their supporters had alleged that the results of the general elections held on 11th May, 2013 were rigged. They protested and camped outside the National Assembly, played loud music till late at night and disrupted the peace and sleep of those living in the area.”
Litigants, and even judges, had to find alternative routes to reach the Supreme Court. The PTI-PAT dharna took place on Constitution Avenue, but it did not paralyze the Capital. The PML-N, as a consequence of the continuous pressure, agreed to the demand of PTI to promulgate a presidential ordinance to enable the setting up of a judicial commission to inquire into the conduct of the general elections of 2013.
While MQM-P adopted a stance that “paragraph 22 of Faizabad sit-in verdict has compared Faizabad sit-in with May 12 massacre, which should be reviewed”, said MQM-P in the petition.
According to the verdict: “On 12th May, 2007 the chief justice was flying in to Karachi. Lawyers and people from all walks of life wanted to receive the chief justice at the express their support for him and an independent judiciary. General Musharraf however did not want the chief justice to be welcomed. Massive shipping containers were brought from the port on trucks and by using mobile cranes were placed across all roads leading to the airport. But this did not deter the people, who abandoned their vehicles and peacefully proceeded on foot to the airport, and this is when they were targeted by gunmen. Fifty-five persons were mercilessly killed and hundreds suffered bullet injuries on 12th May. 2007. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (“MQM”) and its leader, Mr. Altaf Hussain, supported General Musharraf. Incidentally, the shipping containers used to block roads were brought from ports, which were under the domain of the Federal Minister in-charge of ports, a nominee of the MQM.”
Both parties requested the apex court to review its decision.
On Feb 6, 2019, the Supreme Court had ordered action against extremist elements in the written verdict issued for the suo motu case pertaining to Tehreek-e-Labbaik’s (TLP) 2017 Faizabad sit-in.
The 45-page long judgement, was penned down by Justice Qazi Faiz Esa.