KARACHI: As a last chance, the Sindh High Court on Monday directed the district administration to consider within one week the applications of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf seeking permission to hold a public meeting near Mazar-i-Quaid and file a a detailed report on the next date.

A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi also warned that in case of non-compliance, the court would summon all relevant authorities from whom such information/security clearance was required.

The PTI petitioned the SHC and submitted that the party had approached the district and provincial administration on a number of occasions for permission to hold a public gathering, but to no avail.

Earlier, the SHC had ordered the authorities to process the applications in accordance with law, but on the last hearing the district administration had stated that the permission could not be granted for at least four weeks due to an imminent threat.

When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, the petitioner’s lawyer informed the court that the discriminatory behaviour of the deputy commissioner East was evident from the fact that the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) had held a public meeting on May 2 in the same district.

However, the additional advocate general argued that the gathering in question was held without the permission of district administration.

At this, the chief justice asked the officials as to what action had been taken against the persons concerned for holding the public meeting without permission and whether police arrested the participants of such a gathering. However, they could not offer any suitable reply.

DC-East Shahzad Abbasi insisted that the permission could not be granted since there were security concerns.

The chief justice expressed displeasure and remarked that the matter could go ‘far ahead’ if the judiciary ordered an inquiry.

The bench in its order noted that a provincial law officer requested for a short adjournment to submit a final report with regard to prevailing law and order situation as well as the security threat, if any, in the city so that the authorities concerned may consider the request of petitioner.

Adjourning the hearing till May 13, the bench said: “As an indulgence and last chance, one week’s time is granted to submit detailed report to this effect, failing which, all the relevant authorities from whom information/security clearance is required shall be in attendance on the next date of hearing.”

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2024