ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday asked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chairman Tahirul Qadri as well as the Islamabad administration and the police to make sure that the fundamental rights of the citizens are not curtailed during the ongoing sit-ins.

The court directed the capital administration to establish a ‘helpline’ to facilitate the citizens who are facing difficulty while moving to the ‘restricted’ areas.

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Justice Athar Minallah, during the initial hearing of a petition filed by the president of the traders’ association, observed that the ‘Azadi’ and ‘Inqilab’ marches and the security measures, including the sealing of the Red Zone, had made the life of the citizens difficult.

IHC also orders setting up of helpline to facilitate residents

He observed that because of the situation the fundamental rights, including the right of trade, movement, education, protection of life and property had been affected.

At the outset, Advocate Ikram Chaudhry, the counsel for the petitioner, adopted before the court that the government should not have granted permission to the two parties to hold their gatherings at Aabpara and Khayaban-i-Suharwardi, the busiest marketplace of the federal capital.

He contended that if granting permission to the parties was indispensable the protesters should have been allocated an area on the outskirts of Islamabad.

He requested the court to direct the capital administration to remove containers and barriers from the roads enabling the citizens to move freely for their routine business.

Justice Minallah also summoned Additional Advocate General (AAG) Tariq Mehmood Khokhar to know the stance of the federal government on the petition.

Mr Khokhar told the court that the contention of the petitioner with regard to the grant of permission to the political parties at a specified location was reasonable and the government would seriously consider it.

The court then summoned acting Chief Commissioner Islamabad Mujahid Sherdil and adjourned the matter for a while. When the court resumed the hearing of the matter, the acting chief commissioner appeared before the court.

The judge remarked that the ongoing activities had brought the capital city to a standstill. The citizens cannot go to important public departments.

Those students and others who intend to travel abroad have also been stranded.

The court directed Mr Sherdil to meet the PTI and PAT chiefs to discuss measures for protecting the fundamental rights of the citizens.

Justice Minallah also asked the official that being the head of the administration he was duty bound to protect the fundamental rights, including the right to assembly and speech, of the protesters.

He sought a report from the local administration in this matter and adjourned further hearing till Monday.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014