ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman on Friday dismissed the traders petition against the long march of Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ), planned for January 14.

The petition was filed by Mohammad Ajmal Baloch, central organising secretary of Traders Action Committee (TAC) of Islamabad.

The chief justice observed that under Article 16 of the constitution, “Every citizen has the right to assemble peacefully and without arms, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of public order.”

When the petitioner counsel expressed apprehension that the upcoming long march would adversely affect the business community of Islamabad, the IHC Chief Justice, in a lighter mode, remarked that the traders should not be afraid of long march because it would bring new customer for them from other cities.

The petitioner’s counsel, Chaudhry Waqas Zameer, adopted before the court that no doubt Article 16 of the constitution protects the right of assembly of the citizen but Section 18 of the constitution binds the state to safeguard the ‘right of trade’ of its citizens.

Referring to different speeches of Dr Qadri, the counsel said the participants of long march would stay in Islamabad until their demands were met.

“This means that they will be here for indefinite period,” he added.

Sharing the concerns of the traders the petitioners counsel said the marchers’ presence for an indefinite period would bring the life in the federal capital at standstill.

Besides, it would greatly affect the lives of ordinary citizens, business community, students, patients, old age citizens, women and children, he contended.

He requested the court to direct the authorities concerned to restrain Dr Qadri from entering the federal capital and asked them to restrict them to the outskirts of the city to avoid any disturbance.

In a related development, district and sessions judge of Islamabad “west” Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan on Friday issued notices to the chief commissioner, deputy commissioner and inspector general of Islamabad on a petition filed against the alleged harassment of the Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran workers by the district administration and police.