IHC disposes of PTI plea seeking permission for protest in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has disposed of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petition seeking permission for holding a protest rally in the federal capital on Friday (today), stating that staging demonstration today “is no longer practically possible”.

IHC Justice Saman Rifat earlier today reserved its verdict on the PTI petition seeking permission for a protest in Islamabad as the capital authorities have banned gathering in the federal capital under Section 144.

The IHC announced the reserved verdict later in the day, stating that since holding the protest today is no longer practically possible the PTI’s petition “may be treated as a fresh application”.

As per the IHC, the fresh petition seeks to hold a protest on Monday (July 29) “in the F-9 Park (or any other viable venue at a time to be mutually decided by the parties) which shall be decided by way of a speaking order strictly in accordance with the law and keeping in view the observations made herein”.

The ruling party had given the call of a protest to press for the release of its incarcerated founder Imran Khan and other detained party leaders, but it lated called it off till Monday following the reservation of verdict. 

During the hearing in IHC, the state counsel informed the court that the federal capital's administration had declined requests of all political parties to hold protest rallies, in view of the security situation.

Advocate General Islamabad Ayaz Shaukat said that Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced holding a sit-in at D-Chowk, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has called a protest rally, and the PTI is also asking permission for a protest at Press Club.

"However, no one was given the permission. Islamabad has been shut down," he said.

Presenting his arguments, the petitioner's counsel, Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, asked the court to grant his party permission to hold their protest at the F-9 Park.

The lawyer said that when the IHC had asked the administration to give permission to the PTI to hold a rally on Monday, the advocate general had said that they could not issue a permit if JI's sit-in was prolonged.

Following the arguments, Justice Riffat told the advocate general that he shouldn't present himself as "helpless" as he was representing the government.

"We have so many neighbours, who are our enemies. What impression [will your statements] give to them?" she asked.

In response, Shaukat said the government would deal with enemies. "It is tough to deal with your people."

The judge then told the advocate general that either he should give permission to the PTI or she would write in the order that the government was helpless as it could not control the situation.

Sticking to his stance, the advocate general said the court could order whatever it wanted, but the administration could not allow the protest to be staged.

Section 144

Section 144 remains imposed across Punjab and the federal capital, prohibiting assemblies, processions and protests ahead of rallies announced by opposition parties.

A high-level meeting took place late Thursday night to discuss the security situation. The meeting was attended by heads of law enforcement agencies, local administration officials, intelligence agencies and relevant authorities.

The attendees were informed that Section 144 has been imposed in the federal capital due to concerns about terrorism and potential disruptions to law and order. Police sources stated that the police force is fully prepared and equipped to handle any unpleasant incidents.

In the wake of the restriction, the federal capital was completely sealed off with containers, effectively isolating it from surrounding areas, including Rawalpindi, on Friday

Strict security arrangements were made in Islamabad, with blockades on various arteries to keep the protesters from gathering, leading to widespread traffic disruptions across the city.

Personnel of law enforcement agencies have been deployed in the federal capital to ensure compliance and citizens are urged to avoid participating in any illegal activity.