The Supreme Court ordered the government not to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan and to p...
The Supreme Court ordered the government not to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan and to provide space between Islamabad Sector H9 and G9 for protests.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan heard the petition of Islamabad High Court Bar Association against harassment of PTI Long March participants. The other two judges of the bench were Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Syed. Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi was among them.
Read also: Supreme Court: Petition against harassment of 'Long March' participants fixed for hearing
After the adjournment hearing in the Supreme Court started at 5:15 pm, the Attorney General requested for more time, which was granted by the court, after which the Attorney General returned to the court with instructions from the Prime Minister. Started
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq in the order said that PTI should be provided space between H-9 and G-9.
The Supreme Court, at the request of PTI, allowed a rally on Srinagar Highway and a protest on H-9.
The Supreme Court, acting as a mediator, ordered that no raids be carried out on the homes of PTI workers.
The Attorney General of Pakistan opposed the allotment of Srinagar Highway and G-9 Ground for the protest and said that he had rejected the request for a rally at G-9 Ground.
Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq said that the position of the Chief Commissioner is also heard. The Chief Commissioner Islamabad who was present there said that the order given by the court will be implemented.
The court allowed the PTI's assurance not to damage public and private property, but also directed not to disrupt the flow of traffic on the Srinagar Highway.
The Attorney General said that the people of PTI would be in the millions, where JUI held a meeting, there was room for only 15,000 people.
An eight-member committee headed by the federal law minister was also formed, which will meet in the office of the chief commissioner.
The Attorney General said that the ministers of the coalition parties have also been included in the negotiating committee. The law minister is headed by Yousuf Raza Gilani, Faisal Sabzwari, Agha Jan, Asad Mahmood and Khalid Magsi are also part of the negotiating committee.
The committee on behalf of PTI includes Babar Awan, Faisal Chaudhry, Amir Kayani and Ali Nawaz Awan.
The apex court said that a meeting of the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) negotiating committee should be convened at 10 pm and ordered that those lawyers who have no serious allegations be released immediately.
The apex court said it hoped that the top leadership would instruct its workers not to take the law into their own hands and hoped that the administration would immediately end the use of force.
The order said that raids should not be carried out on the houses of the citizens and the citizens should not be harassed without any reason and the protesters should remain peaceful and public and private property should not be damaged.
The Supreme Court said that all those arrested without FIRs should be released immediately but those who have criminal cases against them should be decided by the High Court soon.
The Supreme Court restrained the government from arresting Imran Khan and directed the Interior Ministry not to use force unnecessarily and ordered the release of the vehicle seized during the last 48 hours.
The court adjourned the hearing till tomorrow to ensure the sanctity of the chador and the four walls and release the activists and leaders arrested under the PTI MPO.
Hearing in the Supreme Court
Earlier, when the hearing began in the Supreme Court, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that emergency was imposed in all hospitals, schools and transport were closed and the country was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Attorney General Ashtar Osaf said that the court should not talk like this about the economy, remarks about the economy should be stopped from running the media.
The attorney general urged the court to refrain from making remarks on the economy, saying that the remarks you make reach out to important financial institutions.
"I do not know the details, let me know the situation in the country," he added.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that every person knows the economic situation of the country.
"Will the whole country be shut down for every protest?" He asked. All exams have been postponed, roads and businesses have been closed.
Read more: Islamabad High Court orders police, administration not to harass PTI workers
Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi said that Attorney General, do you not know the situation in the country? Half of the Supreme Court staff could not reach due to road closures.
The Attorney General said that you may be referring to media reports regarding the closure of schools, not every media report is accurate.
Justice Mazahir Naqvi said that official notifications have been issued for closure of schools and postponement of examinations.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that basically the government was trying to close down business life.
The Attorney General said that a bloody march has been threatened, mainly against the closure of routes but measures to protect the lives and property of the people are inevitable, the closure of routes should be seen in context.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that space had been allotted for protests in the past as well. According to media reports, the PTI had applied for permission to protest.
Read also: Government announces to stop PTI long march
The attorney general said he would ask the administration what the decision was on the application.
Petitioner President Islamabad High Court Bar Association Shoaib Shaheen took a stand in the court that the police are also breaking into the houses of lawyers and arresting them. The house of former judge Nasira Javed was also raided by the police last night. Both are bound by the constitution and the law.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that no one has the authority to take the law into their own hands.
The attorney general asked how the armed men could be allowed to protest.
On which the president of Islamabad High Court Bar Association said that if the protest has not started yet then where did the armed men come from?
He further said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman has twice staged a sit-in on Srinagar Highway, Bilawal Bhutto has also staged a long march in Islamabad, still space can be allotted for protesters.
Shoaib Shaheen further said that highways of the whole country except Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been closed and ordinary people including lawyers are being harassed.
He further said that nights are being raided in people's homes, there are Supreme Court directives regarding protests, government measures are unconstitutional, High Court bar has come to court only for the rights of citizens.
The court also sought orders in the pending cases in the Islamabad High Court in this regard and adjourned the hearing.
Imran Khan at risk of suicide attack, Attorney General
When the hearing resumed after the adjournment, the Home Secretary, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Advocate Generals of the four provinces besides the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad and the Deputy Commissioner and Advocate General reached the court at the request of the court.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan inquired, "Mr. Attorney General, tell me what instructions you have taken."
The Attorney General said that the PTI had sought permission to sit on the Srinagar Highway but was not allowed to gather on the Srinagar Highway due to security situation.
He said that according to the report of security agencies, Imran Khan's life is in danger, according to the report of intelligence agencies, there is a danger of suicide attack on former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that you are moving away from the real issue. Are the police conducting raids and taking the leaders and workers into protective custody? What is the fun of raiding homes at night? If the government has a problem with the Srinagar highway, then why is Lahore, Sargodha and the rest of the country closed?
Justice Muneeb Akhtar asked whether the threat to political leadership was only on Srinagar Highway.
Justice Mazahir Naqvi said that Home Secretary takes responsibility for what is happening in the country.
On which the Home Secretary said that it is the duty of the provinces to maintain law and order situation.
Justice Mazahir Naqvi asked whether the Interior Ministry only works as a post office.
The Justice inquired whether the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued any policy directives. It is against the law to raid people's homes.
The Home Secretary said that the Home Ministry has not issued any directive to the provinces, only the reports of intelligence agencies are being processed.
The Attorney General said that the political parties have to sit together and make a pact of protest and mutual respect.
Justice Mazahir Naqvi said that look at the statements of government officials, it is your job as the ruler to take the initiative.
Justice Ejaz-ul-Ahsan said that it has become difficult for doctors to go to the hospital.
Supreme Court directs to provide space for long march
The president of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association said that the entire country was closed to prevent one road from being closed.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that the administration should present a complete plan so that there would be protests and roads would not be closed.
The Supreme Court directed the Chief Commissioner Islamabad to make alternative arrangements for the PTI's long march.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan while talking to the Chief Commissioner Islamabad directed to provide suitable place for the long march, traffic plan should be made to give access to the protesters at the place of long march, they should protest and go home.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan further said that he would take assurance from PTI that the protest would be peaceful, property would not be damaged and violence and roads would not be blocked.
He directed the Home Secretary, Chief Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, IG and Attorney General to resolve the issue.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan directed the PTI lawyers to sit at the negotiating table with the administration with instructions, and also gave PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry time till half past one to take instructions.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that if PTI is given a list of arrests, those who are in danger of arrest will be given protection.
He said that political parties also have interests but political interests have no place in front of the people and the country.
He further said that all the springs are with Pakistan. Do not turn the springs of the country into autumn in the battles between them.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court reprimanded IG Islamabad Nasir Akbar Khan and said that IG, control yourself, use your powers carefully, you already have a lot of burden which you are carrying.
Imran Khan has formed a four-member committee to negotiate with the government, Babar Awan said
PTI lawyer Babar Awan appeared in the court and said that permission for the meeting was sought on May 23 so the court should issue orders to the government to open the roads immediately.
Babar Awan said that our arrested people should be released, lawyers should not be harassed and the order of the Supreme Court in this regard will be implemented.
A bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq gave five points to Attorney General Oshtar Osaf and asked him to seek directions from the prime minister.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan asked whether it was the job of the police to charge batons, set fire, break car windows and after that Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan took a break from the hearing and said that we would meet again in an hour.
After a one-hour break in the hearing in the Supreme Court, the hearing resumed and Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq said that closing Faizabad or the motorway would not work.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that the decision of the court will be implemented and affidavits will be taken.
The head of the bench said that Senator Kamran Murtaza had fulfilled the promise he had made to the court some time ago regarding the protest, to which Babar Awan said that we would do the same.
Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq said that no food chain will be broken, there is lack of communication and trust between the government and PTI but God willing, the imbalance will end.
Babar Awan said that Imran Khan has set up a four-member committee to negotiate with the administration. Besides me, the committee includes Faisal Chaudhry, Amir Kayani and Ali Awan.
He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had requested permission to hold sit-in on Srinagar Highway where Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) had called for sit-in twice and we also wanted to protest there.
Babar Awan assured a peaceful sit-in and life would not be affected and appealed to the court to stop the shelling immediately.
The court is playing the role of mediator in this case, Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq said
Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq said that the court was playing the role of mediator in this case.
Regarding the duration of the sit-in, Babar Awan said that it is a political decision and let it take place in the political forum. We demand new elections, I will not talk to the Attorney General about this.
Babar Awan said that he was grateful to the court on behalf of Imran Khan and the party.
Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq said that raids and arrests were illegal to stop protests, adding that PTI would not be allowed to close motorways or Faizabad.
Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq said that the demands of PTI were clear that wherever Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam allowed sit-in, permission should be given.
The attorney general said that the prime minister would soon nominate a team of ministers for talks, adding that the prime minister wanted political issues to be resolved out of court.
He said that a formal order would be issued regarding shelling and baton charges.
No FIRs under MPO: Justice Mazahir Naqvi
Justice Mazahir Naqvi said that FIRs under MPO would not be allowed and an order would be issued regarding MPO.
The Supreme Court expressed anger over the actions of the Punjab Police and Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq asked whether the job of the police was to break vehicles and set them on fire.
Additional Advocate General Punjab said that weapons were recovered from a house in Lahore, to which Justice Mazahir Naqvi said that weapons are found in every house nowadays. Stop the arms story now.
Justice Ejaz-ul-Haq said that Lahore has been turned into a battlefield and what is happening in Punjab is unfortunate.
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