IHC hears ‘PTI protest in contempt of court’ case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard the contempt of court case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for violation of IHC’s order regarding protest in the capital.

The court had issued explicit orders to maintain peace and order in Islamabad, during the visit of Belarusian President and delegation. PTI, however, refuted the court order and proceeded with the protest rally, which resulted in skirmishes and lockdowns of the capital city and other cities across the country.

Interior Secretary Captain (retd) Khurram Ali Agha submitted the government’s response to the IHC. He informed the court that a committee was formed as per the court’s direction. The committee included the Minister for Interior Affairs, Interior Secretary, Chief Commissioner, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Deputy Commissioner, Agha informed.

PTI leadership including chairman Barrister Gohar were contacted repeatedly by the committee, Interior Secretary’s statement said. Barrister Gohar was asked to apply for the protest under the new law, Interior Secretary Agha said. However, no application was filed by the PTI as per the protest law.

The Interior Secretary said that despite receiving no official application from the PTI, when the protestors reached Islamabad, the government decided to offer an alternative place for holding the sit-in, which was rejected by the leaders of the protest.

“PTI rejected the offer and continued to advance towards D Chowk,” the interior secretary said, adding, “As a civil servant, I cannot even think of committing contempt of court.”

PTI PROTEST RALLY

PTI had announced a protest for Sunday, November 24. The federal authorities had refused to issue a permit for the protest rally due to security concerns and the fact that the protest was announced during an international delegation’s visit. However, PTI announced to continue the rally despite the government’s warnings.

Resultantly, the federal government locked down roads entering and exiting Islamabad, along with major motorways connecting Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad as well. On the day of the protest rally’s advance towards D-Chowk Islamabad, the protestors clashed with the law enforcement multiple times, on several locations. Ultimately, the law enforcement authorities dispersed the protestors and cleared Islamabad.

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