LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday asked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) and Awami Muslim League (AML) to submit written responses during the hearing of a petition against sit ins in Islamabad.

The petition was filed by citizen Mohammad Kamran, saying leaders of PTI and PAT had violated the court’s orders by continuing their sit ins and hence should be tried for contempt of court.

A full bench presided by Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan heard the case. In its remarks to the defendants, the court said it had asked the protesting parties to ensure that national interest was not endangered to which none of the groups obliged and political decisions were made without referring to the law.

The hearing was subsequently adjourned to September 22.

Earlier in August, LHC had issued its verdict against the marches announced by PTI, PAT and had declared the demands put forward by Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri as "unconstitutional".

“PTI and PAT are restrained from launching 'Azadi' march, 'Inqilab' march or holding [sit-in] at Islamabad, in any unconstitutional way,” a short order issued by a full bench had said.

The court had also observed that leaders and activists of PTI and PAT could face legal action in case the Constitution was violated.