PTI leaders ‘found guilty’ of defying SC orders

LEAs to submit their reports to SC today; Imran was informed about May 25 order before his statement

ISLAMABAD:

The law enforcement agencies have contended that the PTI leadership was indeed “involved in inciting party activists to reach D-Chowk in the federal capital on May 25”, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday.

On June 1, the Supreme Court sought reports from director-generals of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and IG Islamabad, interior secretary and others over the alleged involvement of PTI leaders in instigating party workers to reach Islamabad's D-Chowk in violation of its May 25 order.

It has been learnt that all agencies had prepared their separate reports, which will be submitted to the court on Wednesday (today).

Sources told The Express Tribune that the reports stated that PTI Chairman Imran Khan was informed about the May 25 order before his statement, wherein he had asked party activists to reach D-Chowk.

Different PTI leaders’ statements are also attached with the reports to establish as to how they incited activists to reach D-Chowk on May 25.

The reports also revealed that 315 trees were burnt by PTI activists in Blue Area, while more than three dozen people were injured -- wherein only one was female.

It has also been learnt that one of report also alleged that Imran in his address had threatened civil servants to face the consequences if they created hurdles for the protesters.

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Subsequently, PTI activists were charged. Even when deposed premier Imran ended his speech on May 26, around 4,000 to 5,000 people entered the Red Zone.

Earlier, the SC in its order had asked the executive authorities to inform it as to at what time had Imran made the announcement for party activists to reach D-Chowk.

"When, where and how did the crowd cross the barricade to enter a hitherto closed area. Was the crowd entering the Red Zone organised or supervised or did it move randomly? Were there any acts of provocation or breach of assurance by the government? Was any action or treatment meted out by the ICT police against the protesters disproportionate to the actual or perceived wrong committed by the protesters," the court questioned.

The court also asked how many protesters managed to enter the Red Zone. "Which security arrangements, if any, were relaxed by the executive authorities? Whether any security barrier cordons were broken or breached by protestors? Did any protestor/party worker reach the G-9/ H-9 ground?

How many civilians were injured, killed, hospitalised or arrested," the order read.

The order further stated that the reports should be filed within a week for perusal in chambers by the members of the larger bench.

However, one member of the larger bench Justice Yahya Afridi dissented from the majority opinion by saying that there is sufficient material available to initiate a contempt proceeding against Imran over violation of the May 25 order.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi had issued the majority order.