Petition calls for ban on PAT, PTI

Published August 22, 2014
PTI chairman Imran Khan and PAT chairman Tahirul Qadri.
PTI chairman Imran Khan and PAT chairman Tahirul Qadri.

LAHORE: Advocate M.H. Mujahid on Friday filed a petition in the Supreme Court's Lahore registry seeking a ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

In his plea, the petitioner contended that the protests being staged by the PAT and PTI were adversely affecting the movement of Islamabad's residents and sought a ban on both the political parties under Article 17 of the Constitution.

Article 17 of the Constitution relates to freedom of association and states that "every citizen shall have the right to form associations or unions, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan, public order or morality".

The PAT and PTI have been staging anti-government protests for more than a week now against alleged rigging during the 2013 general elections and corruption in the country. The parties are also seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Sharif's PML-N had come into power following its sweeping victory during the 2013 elections that marked the first democratic transition of power in the country.

European Human Rights Commission and other foreign observers had endorsed the transparency and fairness of the elections and appreciated the arrangements made for the polls in a free and peaceful manner.

Opinion

Editorial

Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...
Provincial share
Updated 17 Mar, 2024

Provincial share

PPP has aptly advised Centre to worry about improving its tax collection rather than eying provinces’ share of tax revenues.
X-communication
17 Mar, 2024

X-communication

IT has now been a month since Pakistani authorities decided that the country must be cut off from one of the...
Stateless humanity
17 Mar, 2024

Stateless humanity

THE endless hostility between India and Pakistan has reduced prisoners to mere statistics. Although the two ...