ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has rejected the federal government’s plea seeking to restrain protesters from moving toward the Red Zone area of the capital.
“That is something for the government to handle,” Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk said, while rejecting the attorney general for Pakistan’s (AGP) plea to pass an order stopping protesters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) from entering the area.
AGP Salman Aslam Butt expressed concerns that the protesters might enter the diplomatic enclave, after they moved close to the area on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a five judge bench of the apex court, headed by the chief justice, sought on Monday a written reply from the federal government over Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Kamran Murtaza’s plea seeking a declaration that any extra constitutional steps should be restrained in light of the present situation of the country. The AGP ensured the bench that the government would submit a reply within 24 hours, in this regard.
Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, while referring Article 5 and 6 of the Constitution, observed that the apex court could not allow anyone to deviate from the Constitution, adding that judges are guardians of the Constitution. He also said that every citizen is bound to protect the Constitution under Article 5.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said that if any parliamentarian violates his oath, Parliament must take notice over it, adding that the judiciary cannot intervene in every matter.
The SCBA president also informed the bench that he has moved another plea, and had submitted press clippings, regarding PTI chairman Imran Khan’s announcement for civil disobedience.
The chief justice however said that they would take up issue later.
The bench also directed its office to fix the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) petition against the ‘Inqilab’ and ‘Azadi’ marches during the next hearing.
The SCBA president also requested the bench to issue notice to the defence secretary to file a reply over his petition. The bench, however, told him that federation is a respondent in his petition. “You may include the defence secretary as a respondent”, the chief justice said.
COMMENTS (15)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Drones over the US Embassy would be a good idea ...incase the protesters lose their mind and start trouble .
@Azmat: You are absolutely right and I agree with you that our country is a joke because. 1. We have an illegal Government in place that came into power after rigging the election. 2. LHC order of banning marches cannot be enforced as it was bought by NS&Co. We all forgot the long march of EX-CJ that was legal? 3. Now NS&Co will try to buy SC.
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Kamran Murtaza. why he did file petition when Ahmadis houses were burnt resulting in the deaths of two girls and an elderly woman.and a pregnant women lost her bay
If this government is legal then everything else is legal too; even marching into the red zone and getting the PM to resign by force.
So the march that was completely banned by the "Lohar" high Court can still go in to the red zone and is not declared illegal and unconstituitional in the SC. What a joke of a country is ours
For pmlc gullibles don't be mistaken that taking off restrictions to allow demonstrations and back tracking from stern warnings substantiates that govt is pro democracy or suddenly has a change of heart. Its called incompetency and accepting defeat beforehand. Their only strategy is apparently too much reliance on Gullu and Pomi Butt-esque characters.
Politics is a continual process. Careers never end in politics
@sabi: if that be the case then why the government went to the court in the first place..? and why are they at the mercy of non-entities like Siraj ul Haq to try to pursuade IK...? its the first sign that the court has succumbed to the criticism of it acting as the B team of Gullu Butt league...
For the Law & order have to abide In Supreme Court have given the order,But still long march running in real bad weather in dangerous......
PMLn has become a naughty boy who always complaints abouts other to teacher. Come on PMLn use your senses.
For pti gullibles Sc has in other words allowed government to act on her own to fix the marchers trying entering red zone so don't misunderstand it like you always do and consequently get embarrassed.
"Judges are the guardians of the constitution" they are protecting a certain segment who it seems are above the law..constitution does not apply 2 sharifs...
Sc must have seen drone coverage of tiny gathering of inqilabis thus seeing no threat to system so as to step in and restrict them.Good move.
A word of wisdom for Judges," Look busy do nothing"