ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court turned down the government’s request to stop Imran Khan from holding a long march on Islamabad, and Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial advised the administration of the prime minister to hold talks with the chair of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
The government of the multi-party Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition filed a contempt of court plea against Khan in the Supreme Court over his plan to protest to force the centre to call snap elections.
The petition came a day after Khan announced he would begin the much-anticipated protest march with his supporters from Lahore to Islamabad on Friday to call for early elections.
“I am marching to press the government to announce elections immediately,” he said, adding his supporters and party members should avoid violence.
In its petition moved Wednesday, a counsel for the government said Khan “is making announcements to ‘attack’ Islamabad”, which he insisted was a violation of earlier court orders issued in this regard. He urged the court to direct Khan to ensure the implementation of its orders.
A five-judge bench — headed by Justice Bandial and comprising Justice Ijaz ul-Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Sayyed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi — heard the plea.
In his arguments during the proceedings, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Aamir Rahman said the reports of police and intelligence institutions have been reviewed. He said the court had first asked when did the PTI chief give a call for the long march.
He said that the court order came on May 25 at 6:00 pm, while the announcement was made by Khan at 6:50 pm and he made the second announcement at 9:54 pm.
“The PTI had requested to stage a sit-in at the Srinagar Highway,” he said. “Khan had also announced to go to D-Chowk even before the court order.”
Rahman said that later PTI leaders Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhary, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Usman Dar, Shahbaz Gill, and Saifullah Niazi also gave a call to party workers to arrive at D-Chowk in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, the court sought a response from Khan over the plea seeking contempt proceedings against him.
“From Khan’s statement, it seems like he was informed about the court’s orders as he said that the SC ordered removing barricades,” the top judge remarked as he summoned the PTI chairman to clarify before the court who said what.
Rehman contended that Khan’s latest call to reach D-Chowk is a contempt of court, he said, while referring to the end of PTI’s long march at Jinnah Avenue on May 26.
“Khan crossed the restricted area H-9 and reached Blue Area where he ended the rally,” he said.
The additional attorney general further stated that PTI lawyers Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhry assured the court that they would not cross the restricted area.
At this, Justice Bandial said that Rehman’s argument has some weight therefore it would be better to seek a response from those who gave the assurances.
