Govt vows stern action against PTI protesters for 'attacking' ex-CJP's vehicle in London

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday announced that the federal government will cancel the CNICs and passports of the "attackers" who targeted former CJP Qazi Faez Isa's vehicle after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a protest in London upon his arrival.

Former CJP Isa's car was stopped and banged upon by a group of PTI protesters on Tuesday night where he arrived to attend a prestigious event organised by The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple for his elevation as Callee after he relinquished charge as the country's top judge.

Reacting to the "attack", the interior minister ordered the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to immediately identify the "attackers" via the incident's footage and initiate legal action against them.

"Further action will be taken after registering a first information report (FIR) in Pakistan. The government will cancel computerised national identity cards (CNICs) and passports of the attackers," Naqvi announced.

He added that no one would be allowed to carry out such attacks and the authorities would not remain silent on the regretful incident as the vehicle of the Pakistani high commissioner was also "attacked".

Elaborating on the future course of action, Naqvi said that the government would begin the process of canceling the citizenship of those attackers, and the relevant cases would be forwarded to the cabinet.

The interior minister expressed resentment over the lack of adequate security arrangements and questioned why security was not in place despite threats to ex-CJP Isa.

The PTI's UK chapter had called for the protest — organised by Sahibzada Jahangir, Jahanzeb Khan, Zulfi Bukhari and Azhar Mashwani — outside the Middle Temple against the decision to call ex-CJP Isa to the Bench following his retirement.

Close to 80 people attended the protest but that event ended peacefully.

Around 10 activists stayed on who later on tried to stop the car, banged on it, and tried to open the doors to get access to Isa and his wife Sarina — three hours after the main protest had ended.

As Isa's car — carrying the Pakistan High Commission diplomatic number plate – appeared from the Temple's exit door at around 10:20pm, PTI demonstrators led by Shayan Ali made their way to the car, tried to stop it and shouted slogans against the jurist.

Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Mohammad Faisal said a case will be registered against those involved in the attack.

"What happened to Qazi Faez is unfortunate. We will take action through diplomatic means against those involved in the attack."

"There are around a dozen hooligans who are involved in every act of hooliganism and they are not representative of Pakistan. Those involved in loutish behaviour deserve condemnation," he added.

Speaking to Geo News, Shayan Ali said the UK's Human Rights Act (HRA) gives right to protest and right to assembly to the people living in this country.

He said: "I don't condone any act of violence by anyone. The HRA is clear in the rights it gives for peaceful protest and legal opposition. Right to assembly and right to protest is enshrined in the UK legal system."

"There is no law in England that can be used against us for a peaceful protest. I have seen the statement made by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. This would be transnational repression to silence the govt criticism if any action is taken," he concluded.

At the time of Isa's arrival, a significant police presence secured the venue's entrance as numerous protestors holding placards shouted slogans against the ex-CJP.

The demonstration was also joined by British lawyer Barrister Mark McDonald, who also criticised the Middle Temple's invitation to the former chief justice, asserting it should not occur again.

The Middle Temple is one of four historic and esteemed legal institutions known as the Inns of Court in London. These institutions provide training to law students and grant licences for entry into the legal profession.

The former chief justice became the first Pakistani judge to get elected as a bencher and be invited to the Middle Temple, a prestigious legal institution in the United Kingdom (UK).

It may be noted that the Middle Temple is where Isa studied law. His father was also a graduate of the institute.