ISLAMABAD: Justice Aamer Farooq of Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday grilled a petitioner for the lack of homework before seeking directions to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the federal government for evolving a mechanism to ensure a peaceful protest on November 2.

The petitioner also wanted the court to direct the PTI and the government to designate a particular place for the protest where fundamental rights of the citizens would not get affected.

During the preliminary hearing, the court observed that the petitioner should have approached the chief commissioner Islamabad for such a relief.

In case the chief commissioner does not redress the grievance, the petitioner might have invoked the jurisdiction of the high court, the judge observed.

He, however, adjourned the hearing of the petition till October 24 when the court would take up an identical petition against the upcoming protest of the PTI.

Shehzad Ahmed in his petition maintained that the announcement by the PTI to lock down the federal capital was an infringement on the fundamental rights of the residents.

The petitioner’s counsel - Barrister Sajeel Shaharyar and Hassan Murtaza Mann - cited the secretary interior and the PTI chairman Imran Khan as the respondents.

The petition contended that the sit-in of the PTI in 2014 had caused a loss of billions of rupees to the country. Besides, 50 schools and colleges in the capital remained closed due to the security situation with their buildings taken over by the Punjab police and Rangers for several months.

The petition requested the court to direct the ministry of interior to provide the PTI with an area where it could protest without disturbing the civic life. The PTI may also be directed to remain within the boundaries of that area, the petition added.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2016