LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the Punjab government and police not to take illegal action against the workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and sought replies on the possible suspension of mobile phone services and supply of petrol.

Insaf Lawyers Forum’s member Yousaf Rashid and others filed the petitions against the government’s crackdown on the PTI workers to stop it’s planned ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ (real independence march) on Islamabad.

Advocates Azhar Siddique and Anis Hashmi represented the petitioners before the court.

Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz observed that it had become a routine for all political parties to launch a ‘long march’ on the federal capital.

The counsel argued that the PTI announced a “peaceful” long march, but the government launched a crackdown on political workers. They said the government blocked all main roads in the province by placing containers.

They asked the court to restrain the government from arresting the workers, blocking roads, suspending mobile phone service and petrol supply in the province. They said the actions of the government were in violation of fundamental rights of the citizens.

Advocate Siddique argued that police and Rangers should be deployed for the protection of the march’s participants. He asked the court to also summon the list of all arrested workers by the police and issue their release orders.

Justice Aziz observed that the court would not issue any order without hearing the point of view of the other side.

“As I do not watch television, I don’t know what is going on outside the court,” the judge observed.

The judge issued notices to the government and the police with a direction to submit written replies to the petitions by May 25 (today).

Meanwhile, the bars on Tuesday condemned the raids on the offices and homes of some lawyers having affiliation with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Talking to the media in the Lahore High Court Bar, Pakistan Bar Council executive committee chairman Pir Masood Chishti said the government should immediately release the arrested lawyers.

He said the lawyers should not be harassed for performing their professional responsibilities.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2022