Appeal filed: PTI challenges single bench’s decision

Claims judgment was hastily passed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has challenged an Islamabad High Court order directing the party to hold its November 2 protest at ‘Democracy Park and Speech Corner’.

Claiming to be “aggrieved and dissatisfied” with Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui’s order of October 31, PTI Lawyers Forum members challenged the order, requesting a larger bench to declare it illegal.

The case will be heard by a division bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb on November 2 (today).

While disposing of the petitions against the protest, Justice Siddiqui had directed the administration to allow PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other to demonstrate at the designated place, provided that the fundamental rights of other citizens are protected.

“We will assemble at the designated place,” assured the PTI chairman’s counsel Naeem Bokhari. “You will disperse from there as well,” said Justice Siddiqui.

In the order, Justice Siddiqui said that if Imran Khan shows willingness to stage demonstrations at the designated place, the federal government and district administration shall facilitate such activities.

The court noted that lodging a protest is the  fundamental right of citizens, but nobody can be compelled, pressurised to do what is not permissible under the law.

Justice Siddiqui added that district administration shall remain within the limits of law, adding that the administration is bound to protect rights of citizens as well as take all remedial steps to ensure fundamental rights.

Petitioners Mohammad Bilal and Nasir Azzem and others, through their counsel Farrukh Dall, have approached the high court to request that the order be set aside while claiming that the single bench did not pay heed to the petitioners’ petition and passed the judgment in a hasty and cursory manner.

On October 30, the petitioners said, CADD Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry conducted a rally at Shakrial in Islamabad while Section 144 was in effect, but did not attract of the sitting government.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2016.