Despite SC order, marchers stay put at Constitution Avenue

Irfan Haider Dawn.com Published August 26, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Protesters continue to throng D-Chowk despite the Supreme Court’s order a day earlier to vacate Constitution Avenue.

Despite the order to vacate the route, pockets of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) protesters were seen on Constitution Avenue on the 13th day of Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri's anti-government protests in the capital.

The Supreme Court on Monday had asked the parties holding sit-ins on Constitution Avenue to clear the road, after which Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had also directed the local city administration and law enforcement agencies to implement the apex court's orders.

However, no police officials took action against the crowd of protesters by early afternoon.

During the hearing of petitions against the sit-ins a day earlier, Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk heading a five-judge bench had said: “The test will be when we come to the Supreme Court from the Judges Enclave through the Constitution Avenue on Tuesday."

But Constitution Avenue remained blocked today and judges had to take the Federal Cabinet Secretariat route to reach Supreme Court. The legal counsels of PTI and PAT were expected to submit their responses in court with the hearing adjourned to Wednesday (tomorrow).

For the past many days, judges, including the chief justice, have to take a long detour to reach the Supreme Court. A number of cases have also been adjourned because neither the counsel nor the litigants could reach the court.

Protesters refuse to leave

The government on Tuesday submitted its response in the Supreme Court for the ongoing case against sit-ins.

The report stated that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) protesters had refused to vacate Constitution Avenue.

The report added that Attorney General Salman Butt and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Jawad Paul had also offered the protesters two alternative places to continue their sit-ins at.

PTI, PAT submit response

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) on Tuesday also submitted their responses in Supreme Court.

PTI counsel Hamid Khan said that PTI protesters were not causing blockade to any traffic, however, PAT maintained that it was their constitutional right to protest.

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shuaib

Aug 26, 2014 02:53pm

To PTI and PAT, your shows gets extraordinarily reasonable coverage on TV channels after 5:00PM daily so you can safely move to a secure place. What is today's schedule?

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oBSERVER

Aug 26, 2014 02:54pm

Supreme Court cannot order some one who appointed them.This is true Democracy and People are Supreme in true Democracies.

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Mohammed Hanif

Aug 26, 2014 03:10pm

So the current rulers are illegal, but IK and TUQ, ignoring the SC are acting legally and for the good of the people? Fine example of law abiding for all to follow.

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raja - toronto

Aug 26, 2014 03:38pm

i won't be surprised if IK says that the SC bench who given the order to vacate the road is also corrupt... and i won't be surprised if he says that people on the road are send by NS even they are having PTI flags in there hand.

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Haroon Rashid

Aug 26, 2014 04:17pm

PTI has argued that the protest is taking place in the Parade Ground, which is away from Parliament House and other buildings nearby. That Parade Ground has not been used for any kind of traffic for the last five years which is also true.

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Hasnain Haque

Aug 26, 2014 04:40pm

PTI is challenging this verdict so they do not have to move yet.

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Imran Malik

Aug 26, 2014 05:00pm

It is unfortunate that PTI and PAT are now undermining the very foundations of our state. By refusing to obey the Supreme Court they are setting very dangerous events in motion. IK and TuQ are definitely out to destroy Pakistan.

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Buta

Aug 26, 2014 05:37pm

According to the constitution of Pakistan both an ordernary person has the right to protest in a public place,as well as the honourable judges have the right to drive their car on the Constitution Avenue in Islamabad. Are both traeted equally in the eyes of law.

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Nazir Ahmed

Aug 26, 2014 06:44pm

NS did not obey the supreme court order in 1997 and attacked the court and the court did not punish him. the PTI & PAT ought to follow the suit.

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Ahmer

Aug 26, 2014 07:32pm

It was expected. Judiciary should have stayed above the fray to maintain its respect and integrity and not taken sides.

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Ahmer

Aug 26, 2014 10:20pm

The Sharif brothers should not misuse the judiciary lest it too loses respect and credibility like they have lost.