ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday disposed of a government petition seeking to initiate contempt proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan over his failure to obey the order to finalise modalities for peaceful conduct of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) long march on Islamabad.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the federal government and the opposition party to constitute negotiating committees and meet late at night to finalise modalities for the protest and proposed sit-in.
The committees were to meet at the office of the Islamabad chief commissioner at 10:00 pm. The court had also ordered the administration to designate a piece of land in H-9 where the protesters could rally. However, protesters converged on D-Chowk instead.
The negotiations couldn’t be held, however, as both sides claimed the other had not shown up.
Seperately, the court had also directed the Ministry of Interior to release lawyers who are not wanted in criminal cases and issued orders to immediately release party workers and activists detained under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). The ministry was also prevented from unnecessary use of force against the protestors.
Today, the court constituted a five-judge larger bench, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, after the government moved the petition through the office of Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali.
The petition said the PTI chief violated court orders and damaged state property during the march.
“Contempt of court proceedings may be launched against Imran Khan for disobeying the court’s orders,” it read.
Responding to the request, the bench said Wednesday’s orders of the apex court would remain in place.
The chief justice then directed the government to do its work in line with Wednesday’s orders and said his court would issue a judgement in the case which would be an “example for the future”.
He observed that political workers did not have their own agenda and followed the party leadership.
“We are not conducting proceedings in order to accuse anyone,” he iterated. “The court issued the order only against violation of constitutional rights.”
During the proceedings, the chief justice further observed that Articles 16 (freedom of assembly) and 17 (freedom of association) of the Constitution ensured the right to protest but it was not unlimited and unchecked.
MINISTER ACCUSES IMRAN OF CONTEMPT
Meanwhile, Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan said he personally monitored the security situation all night and claimed the public had rejected the “band of rioters”.
In a statement, he said: “Imran Niazi reneged on his promise with the Supreme Court to hold a rally at a designated place, and he broke his word by announcing to march towards D-Chowk.”
Sanaullah also stated the Metrobus stations and trees were set on fire by the protesters belonging to Khan’s party.
“Under the shield of the Supreme Court’s decision, the band of rioters continued setting things on fire all night,” he despised, adding Khan continued to trample down the court orders from his container throughout the night.
“Imran Khan kept announcing contempt of court all night from his container,” he loathed and maintained: “The police did not fire a single rubber bullet. It’s false propaganda.”
He also stated that at least 18 policemen and Rangers personnel were critically injured, vowing the security agencies would continue performing their duty of protecting the life and property of people.
“I pay tribute to every soldier of Islamabad police and Rangers,” he declared.
“The Supreme Court should issue clear orders for ensuring the write of Constitution and state so that the band of rioters could be expelled from Islamabad and the safety of life and property of the citizens of Islamabad could be ensured,” said the interior minister.
“Rangers and Islamabad police bravely and responsibly guarded the citizens of Islamabad and controlled the band of rioters with tear gas,” he added.
