ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the Islamabad administration for providing an alternative venue for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for holding its power show meeting and submit a report.
The top court directed the PTI lawyer to provide details from the PTI leadership as to where they are going to hold the power show.
The Islamabad’s chief commissioner has been directed to provide a public meeting venue to the PTI and submit a report after which the hearing was adjourned till 2.30 pm.
The top court conducted the hearing of PTI’s petition on road closures and house raids in the wake of PTI’s long march.
During the hearing, the court summoned IG Islamabad Akbar Nasir Khan, Chief Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Home Secretary.
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During the hearing, the Attorney General of Pakistan told the court that the PTI had asked for a place to sit on the Srinagar Highway, but its request was rejected. The attorney general told the court that the PTI’s application was rejected on the grounds of security concerns.
The attorney general also said that there were reports of a suicide attack on former prime minister Imran Khan, which led to the rejection of the petition.
Expressing reservations over the Attorney General’s statement, the SC judge expressed outrage over the home secretary and IG Islamabad.
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The judge remarked that instead of closing only one road, the whole country has been closed. The court expressed concern over the raids on the homes of PTI workers and leaders in Lahore.
The court asked the PTI lawyer to provide details from the PTI leadership as to where they are to hold the meeting. The court directed the IG Islamabad to contact the PTI leadership and find out an alternative venue for the meeting.
The court directed the Home Secretary, IG Islamabad and Commissioner Islamabad to prepare a traffic plan and plan for the meeting and present it in the court. No road should be closed for public movement.
The court ordered the PTI leadership to guarantee that people would return home after the public meeting.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan ordered that the people are allowed to come to the public gathering but they will have to return after its conclusion.
The hearing was adjourned till 2:30 pm.