ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday disposed of a petition seeking a court order directing the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the government to make the Nov 2 protest “hassle free”. The IHC directed the petitioner to raise such demands before the city administration.

The petitioner had requested the court to intervene in providing a safe and secure place for the PTI to demonstrate, to ensure that fundamental rights are not infringed, that public order is not disturbed and that the sit-in does not hinder the daily lives of citizens.

Justice Aamer Farooq directed the petitioner to approach the district administration for the matter. The court had previously raised questions regarding the maintainability of the petition as well.

Through his counsels Sajeel Shaharyar and Hasan Murtaza Mann, petitioner Shahzad Ahmed Mir had approached the IHC after PTI Chairman Imran Khan urged people to get ready for a “decisive sit-in in Islamabad” if the prime minister did not present himself for accountability.

The court had asked how the petitioner knew for sure that the protest will not be peaceful and Justice Farooq had said that the court cannot decide on a matter on the basis of mere assumptions and statements given to the press. The court also noted that the petitioner had come to the court without first reaching out to and trying to avail remedy from the relevant forum.

The counsels had maintained that the petitioner had just wanted for the 2014 situation to not be repeated, to which the court replied that if the petitioner was willing, the matter could be sent to the chief commissioner.

The petitioner has argued that the 2014 sit-in had caused administrative and economic losses and that the “common man [had] suffered badly- probably the most”.

The petitioner had suggested the court assign a separate space, such as the Fatima Jinnah Park or Parade Ground, for PTI and its supporters to stage their demonstrations in and also requested the court to restraint the PTI from blocking access to government offices.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2016

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