Pretext for crackdown?: In court petition, PTI argues against section 144

Over 100 Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers granted bail by Anti-Terrorism Court

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the imposition of Section 144 in the federal capital, claiming it was an illegal measure.

The petition was filed by the party’s general secretary Jehangir Tareen.



Citing the ministry of interior, inspector general of police (IGP), inspector general of police Punjab, IG Azad Jammu and Kashmir, chief commissioner and deputy commissioner (DC) Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration as respondents, the petitioners maintained that on August 7 Islamabad’s deputy commissioner imposed Section 144 in ICT, after PTI chairman Imran Khan announced celebrations marking the completion of one month of the sit-ins.

The petitioner claimed that Section 144 was imposed to ‘harass PTI workers’. He alleged that law enforcement agencies have arrested thousands of party workers under Section 144, which is ‘unfair’. According to the petitioner, the imposition of Section 144 is based on mala fide intentions of the government.

IHC registrar has yet to fix a date for the hearing of the petition. The IHC chief justice on Monday had ordered the government to release all protesters arrested under Section 188 ‘for disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servants’ against Rs10,000 surety bonds each.

The Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) granted bail to 103 PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers against surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each. The workers were arrested by police in the capital on charges of violating Sections 188, 144, and 7 of the ATA as they reportedly damaged state property and injured police officers. More than 700 party workers were arrested by police last week and sent to Adiala Jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

Meanwhile, a special anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala extended on Monday the arrest warrant for PAT chief Tahirul Qadri by another seven days Daily Express reported. Police told ATC Judge Ittefaq Abbasi that arresting Qadri would create a law and order situation. Qadri was nominated along with PAT activists for attacking and injuring police officials including a DSP in Gujranwala on PAT’s Youm-e-Shuhada held on August 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2014.