IHC adjourns hearing on PTI's plea against protest NOC delay

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday adjourned the hearing on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) petition against the government’s delay in issuing a no objection certificate (NOC).

IHC Justice Amir Farooq heard the petition filed by the PTI ahead of its long march.

During the proceedings today, the state's counsel argued that the PTI's request for holding the gathering has become "ineffective" and requested the court to dismiss the application.

"A sad incident has occurred," the court responded stating that "some more time should be granted" to the party.

The IHC judge also added that "the parties should sit together and settle the matter, otherwise the court will see to it" before adjourning the hearing further until Friday.

Revealing the itinerary, PTI leader Asad Umar had said that the march would reach Islamabad on November 4. On behalf of the former ruling party, an application had also been submitted to the deputy commissioner of Islamabad for a rally and sit-in.

However, following an armed attack on the PTI chief's container, as he led the ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ in Wazirabad last week, the march had come to a halt.

Read PTI long march: Capital police warn of action against protests sans permission

Yesterday, the PTI chief announced that the march would pick up where it was left off on Tuesday. However, the wounded PTI chief during the address had said he would not join in person while he recovered from his wounds but will do so when the convoy reaches Rawalpindi, which is expected in the next 10-14 days.

Meanwhile, the capital administration had filed a separate application with the IHC stating that it could not permit the PTI to hold a rally in Islamabad.

The Islamabad administration prepared an affidavit affirming 39 conditions to grant permission to the PTI to lead its “Haqeeqi Azadi March” into the federal capital.

The administration had asked for the document to be signed by the PTI chairperson, after which it would allow the former premier to hold a rally in the capital for just one day, following which it wanted him to disperse, along with his supporters.

In a previous hearing, Advocate General Islamabad Jahangir Khan Jadoon had argued against granting permission for the march saying "they have always violated terms and conditions, we are not trusting them. For them, we have reserved the area of D-Chowk, they can hold this rally there if they want".