No lockdown? Nov 2 rally at Democracy Park, PTI tells high court

Islamabad admin warns party against shutting down capital, violating Section 144

ISLAMABAD: As PTI leaders reiterated their ultimatum to stage a massive protest in Islamabad on November 2, the party assured the high court on Friday that any planned protest will be staged at the designated spot in the capital, rather than outside government offices as it has publicly claimed.

On a related note, the Islamabad deputy commissioner on Friday sent letters to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) warning it to avoid violating Section 144 or attempting to “lockdown” the city.

On Friday morning, while pleading before Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, PTI’s lawyers petitioned the court over what they called the “illegal” arrests of dozens of party workers on Thursday evening.

The counsels submitted that the IHC should ask the capital’s administration why it was not respecting the court’s orders, passed just a day before, to not shut down or block any part of the city.

The court, however, asked the petitioners to first assure whether the PTI were ready to respect and comply with the court’s orders.  The counsel for PTI’s leadership assured the judge that the November 2 protest would be staged within a limited area in Democracy Park and Speech Corner near Parade Avenue, Shakarparian.

“When asked whether the petitioners (PTI) and their leader, Imran Khan and others, are ready to respect and comply with the order of this court,” Justice Siddiqui stated in the order, the “petitioners and their learned counsel, in attendance, submitted that the order passed by this court shall be respected in letter and spirit and the protest shall be staged at the designated place (Democracy Park).”



Following the assurances provided by PTI, the court directed deputy attorneys general Fazalur Rehman Khan Niazi, Arshad Mehmood Kiani and Arshad Khan Jadoon – representing the federation – to communicate court’s order to the district administration.

Meanwhile, the court further limited the capital’s authorities to pursue legal action or procedures against those who broke the law and stopped them from harassing anyone. The court also stopped them from placing containers to block roads within the limits of Islamabad Capital Territory.

Detained party workers

Earlier, while hearing the petition over PTI’s 43 detained workers, the party’s counsel contended that workers had gathered at the Taj Marquee in Sector E-11 on October 27 when “a huge contingent of police attacked the gathering and started torturing PTI leaders and workers on the spot.”

After hearing their arguments, the court directed the inspector general of the Islamabad Police and the deputy commissioner to present the court with a list of all the detained people and particulars of the offences they had committed, in the next hearing, which is scheduled for Monday.

Letters delivered to Imran

Later in the day, the capital’s administration delivered two letters to the party. In one of the letters addressed to PTI chief Khan, DC Capt (retd) Mushtaq Ahmed warned that any move to violate Section 144 or “any violation of law or threat to the peace and tranquility in Islamabad will not be allowed.”

In the letter, delivered in compliance with the IHC’s orders issued on October 27, Capt (retd) Ahmed said that a number of residents of the capital had approached the high court for protection of their fundamental rights in light of the PTI’s planned protest to ‘lockdown’ Islamabad.

“The government is cognisant and alert to ensure their fundamental rights including but not limited to the right of security of citizens and their assets, the right of freedom of movement, the right of freedom of trade, business or profession, the right to education and health, the right to enjoy quality life enjoying basic amenities of life including civic services,” the deputy commissioner stated, adding that the party could stage its protests at Democracy and Speech Corner.

In a second letter addressed to PTI’s chief coordinator Colonel (retired) Younus Ali, the Islamabad administration said that leaders and workers of PTI were violating Section 144 by organising rallies, processions, and demonstrations. The letter further reminded the PTI that use of loudspeakers had been prohibited. It adds that the display of weapons by armed guards of PTI parliamentarians was also a violation of the law.

“You are requested to abide by the law and instruct your leaders and workers not to violate section 144. Any violation of law will not be tolerated and legal action will be taken against the culprits,” the administration warned.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2016.