ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Aamer Farooq on Monday sought a report from the inspector general of Islamabad police on a petition filed by traders against possible closure of roads because of Pakistan Thereek-i-Insaf (PTI)’s upcoming long march and sit-in in the city.

The traders in the petition pointed out that the Supreme Court earlier this year had sought an assurance from the PTI that it will confine its protest to a specified place.

However, the party violated its undertaking and marched towards D-Chowk and set trees ablaze and damaged public properties.

The rally was finally called off on account of fear of bloodshed, it added.

The petition stated that the protest by political parties was to be seen through past experience starting from 2014 when a political party started a sit-in in the city for almost five months during which vital government buildings, including Parliament House and Pakistan Television, were attacked.

It requested the court to restrain the political party from entering Islamabad’s commercial areas. Permission for public demonstration could be made conditional with a proper undertaking by the PTI of confining itself within the designated place outside the periphery of the capital city.

During the hearing, Justice Farooq observed that highways and the motorway were a federal subject and the federal government was responsible for keeping the roads open and clear.

He pointed out that the district government placed containers on various points in Islamabad and it depicted that the situation was not the same as it seemed to be.

The IHC chief justice asked the ministry to devise a strategy to ensure hassle-free protests in the federal capital.

He directed the representative of the interior ministry to suggest alternatives to blocking roads through containers and adjourned hearing till Nov 17.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2022