ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has given one day to the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to clear Constitution Avenue for the free movement of traffic.
The main thoroughfare in the Red Zone of Islamabad has been the site of the PTI and the PAT sit-in protests since August 19, 2014.
The five-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, after hearing the bar’s plea against the ongoing protests at Constitution Avenue, has directed the counsels for PAT and PTI, and the Attorney General of Pakistan to work together to come up with a solution the allows for free movement on Constitution Avenue.
The court has also requested a report about the clearance of Constitution Avenue for free movement tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.
“The test will be when we (the judges) try to come to the Supreme Court tomorrow using Constitution Avenue,” the chief justice remarked.
The court took strong exceptions over the drying of clothes on the Supreme Court’s boundary wall. The bench asked the PAT counsel Ali Zafar to take notice in this regard.
Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said that the functioning of the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Federal Shariat Court has been interrupted due to the ongoing protests.
Justice Khawaja lashes out Qadri
Referring to PAT chief Tahirul Qadri, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked that one of the leaders of the protests is a Canadian citizen, adding that the court had taken note last year that Qadri is a Canadian national who has taken an oath to remain faithful to the queen of Canada.
Referring to the statements of Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Justice Khawaja said that the repercussions of this protest are very serious.
Expressing concern over the prevailing political situation, the Justice lamented that the President of Sri Lanka had postponed his visit to Pakistan due to the political unrest.
Justice Mian Saqib Nisar made it clear that the court itself had a neutral stance when it came to political issues or political activities of both parties protesting in Islamabad, adding that the court was enforcing its authority under Article 184 (3) of the constitution for free movement.
During the hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt told the bench that the government is willing to provide an alternative site to both parties for sit-in protests.
The justice, however, said that the location is not the issue before them as they just wanted clearance of Constitution Avenue for free movement. He said that the court had received complaints that certain groups of people were insisting to check the identity of individuals who were coming to the court.
PTI counsel Hamid Khan contended that no PTI worker was placing any hindrance on Constitution Avenue. PAT counsel Ali Zafar also told the bench that he had conveyed the court’s concern to his client regarding obstruction in free movement along Constitution Avenue. The hearing of the case has been adjourned until Wednesday.
COMMENTS (8)
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Each of them has a identical, mass-produced, China-made danda. It will be very difficult to clear this mob.
Some of these judges are those who came to escaping Arsalan when he was caught in money extortion from Malik Riaz. These Uncle judges are the result of our independent judiciary. They should learn from our Chief Justices of the past like Hazrat Umar Farooq.
Honorable Judges can see marchers clothes drying on Supreme Court walls. Yet they cannot see the shrouds of 14 murdered in broad daylight in Lahore.
judges took notice of drying clothes on supreme court boundary wall,,,are they serious?where is the notice for killings 15 and injuring at least 100 people by our own punjab police?where is the notice for rigging ?as imran khan is requesting it for 1 year on ,and they take notice of drying clothes.wah
The judicial beaurocracy seems to very sensitive regarding there free access to their workplace. where were they sleeping when we were containerized for 10 long days in Lahore. They even did not bother to take notice of peoples massacre in model town. Judicial system seems to be captured or hijacked by vested interests and there is dire need to sanitize this system.
@Atheist_Pakistani: Lets not hate anybody or party. the metro project is a development project which will benefit the residents of the twin cities for decades.Unlike the sit ins which are nothing but music parties orchestrated by 5 retiring highups. If NS passes October safely and these 5 are retired then you will see where these inqilibaies will vanish. Oh my naeve friends , you thought you are bringing a clean revolution to Pakistan. I wish your wishes would come tru . I am a voter of PTI from the only winning seat in Lahore but I dont like when he is playing the game of miltablishment.
Im a very vocal critic of PTI (FYI: I dont support any party) but this is a ridiculous decision by the SC. The poor Lords of the Manor are unable to drive easily in their tax payer provided air conditioned Mercedes? And oh what a crime that poor people put up some clothes to be dried on the SC building. The 'honorable' judges should know that it the people who own each and every building of the state and the 'honorable' justices are servants of the people just like all government functionaries. People sitting in their high and mighty seats forgot the real function and purpose of their jobs...