Protest or Section 144? IHC reserves verdict

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved its decision on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s petition seeking permission to hold a protest in Islamabad. Justice Saman Rifat Imtiaz presided over the session, questioning the lawyers on various aspects of the case.

“Has anything been decided?” Justice Imtiaz asked about the time and place of the protest as well as the permissions from the administration. She was addressing the lawyers of the parties involved.

Section 144 imposed across Punjab, Islamabad

In response, the Advocate General informed the court that Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has also called for a sit-in today. Justice Imtiaz noted that the Deputy Commissioner had not written about this in their report.

The court questioned where the protests and sit-ins would take place to which the Advocate General replied that PTI had asked to protest at D-Chowk and outside the Press Club. PTI’s advocate, Shoaib Shaheen, requested permission to hold their protest at F-9 Park instead if these places were not available. Justice Imtiaz suggested allowing the protest on Monday.

When asked when Jamaat-e-Islami was permitted by the district administration, the Advocate General stated that they had not given permission to Jamaat-e-Islami either. He also mentioned that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) had also called for a protest after Friday.

The Advocate General informed the court that they could not permit JUI-F to protest and that the entire city had been shut down. Justice Imtiaz questioned why the whole of Islamabad had been blocked. The Advocate General responded that Section 144 had been enforced.

JI, PTI protests today amid section 144

“Either say that you never allow PTI to protest,” Justice Imtiaz remarked, asking if the government would not take precautionary measures in case of a protest. The Advocate General expressed uncertainty about granting permission on Monday, citing the unpredictable situation if Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-in were to be prolonged.

Justice Imtiaz stressed that the government should have confidence in its ability to control the situation, leaving the final decision on PTI’s petition pending.