ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday barred Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from locking down Islamabad and summoned party chief Imran Khan at the next hearing to explain his statements about paralysing the government.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the IHC heard four petitions filed for restraining PTI from shutting down the city on November 2, and seeking directions for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) not to telecast Imran Khan’s speeches. “A place, namely Democracy Park and Speech Corner, has already been notified for protests in Islamabad,” the court observed. It directed the district magistrate to inform the PTI chief about the designated venue. The court also summoned Imran Khan to appear on October 31 to explain which law allowed him to make statements to block the city and jam the government machinery. The court observed that recordings of Khan’s speeches were indicative of the fact that the proposed sit-in apparently was aimed at blocking the Islamabad city and jamming government machinery. PEMRA officials had presented recordings of Khan’s televised speeches in the court. The Interior Ministry secretary, the Islamabad Police inspector general and the Islamabad Capital Territory chief commissioner had appeared before the court. They said that all efforts would be made to ensure the smooth running of life in the city on November 2. The court barred the district administration from cordoning off roads by placing containers and other hurdles. Justice Siddiqui remarked that it should be known that the courts were the only umpires here. “Staging a protest is the right of every one, but no one will be allowed to block the roads. The chief commissioner should ensure that no road is closed and no school and hospital is shut down. The schedule of examination will also not be changed. The government will not close down the roads by placing containers,” he said. The hearing was adjourned till October 31.
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