SC issues notices to Imran Khan, Qadri over ongoing protests
Court takes notice of mass inconvenience the protests have caused since they began last week
ISLAMABAD:
The country’s top court has decided to intervene in the ongoing political unrest by issuing notices to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri over a 'violation of fundamental rights of citizens' due to their ongoing protests in Islamabad.
A five-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, issued notices to all respondents, and scheduled a hearing for Thursday.
The bench is currently reviewing the Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) plea to stop all state functionaries from taking any unconstitutional step that might further imperil the political situation.
The court took notice of the mass inconvenience the protests have caused as well. During the hearing, the chief justice mentioned the commuting problems people are facing. Cases were adjourned because the court’s staff could not arrive on time, or could not arrive at all. Even the judges, he said, faced difficulties as they had to drive the wrong way to arrive in the court.
“Does anyone come to the Supreme Court through this mob? I have no concern about their political demands. My concern is that whether my fundamental rights have been hindered due to this prevailing situation,” Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.
The country’s top court has decided to intervene in the ongoing political unrest by issuing notices to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri over a 'violation of fundamental rights of citizens' due to their ongoing protests in Islamabad.
A five-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, issued notices to all respondents, and scheduled a hearing for Thursday.
The bench is currently reviewing the Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) plea to stop all state functionaries from taking any unconstitutional step that might further imperil the political situation.
The court took notice of the mass inconvenience the protests have caused as well. During the hearing, the chief justice mentioned the commuting problems people are facing. Cases were adjourned because the court’s staff could not arrive on time, or could not arrive at all. Even the judges, he said, faced difficulties as they had to drive the wrong way to arrive in the court.
“Does anyone come to the Supreme Court through this mob? I have no concern about their political demands. My concern is that whether my fundamental rights have been hindered due to this prevailing situation,” Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.