Sit-in violence: FIRs against police officials challenged
The IHC will hear the petition next week
ISLAMABAD:
Top police officials and the Islamabad chief commissioner on Saturday approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to challenge First Information Reports (FIRs) ins in which they have been accused of terrorism relating to violence at the Islamabad sit-ins.
FIRs lodged by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek over the violence in the Red Zone on August 30 include the names of former inspector general (IG) of the Islamabad Police Khalid Khattak, the Punjab IG, the Railways IG, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Mujhaid Sherdil and a former Islamabad Operations SSP.
FIRs were registered against them, the PM and cabinet members after an additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) issued directives on a petition filed by the PTI seeking criminal cases against them.
At least three people were killed during clashes between the police and PTI and PAT workers after protesters attempted to march on PM House on August 30.
Additional Attorney General Waqar Rana filed the application and requested that the court set aside the ADSJ order. They challenged the powers of section 22-A, maintaining that the judiciary and executive were separate pillars of the state and judicial officers could not pass orders against administrative actions.
The applicants said that the police were deputed to protect state buildings and only resisted the protesters when they entered buildings and started damaging them.
The IHC will hear the petition next week.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2014.
Top police officials and the Islamabad chief commissioner on Saturday approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to challenge First Information Reports (FIRs) ins in which they have been accused of terrorism relating to violence at the Islamabad sit-ins.
FIRs lodged by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek over the violence in the Red Zone on August 30 include the names of former inspector general (IG) of the Islamabad Police Khalid Khattak, the Punjab IG, the Railways IG, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Mujhaid Sherdil and a former Islamabad Operations SSP.
FIRs were registered against them, the PM and cabinet members after an additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) issued directives on a petition filed by the PTI seeking criminal cases against them.
At least three people were killed during clashes between the police and PTI and PAT workers after protesters attempted to march on PM House on August 30.
Additional Attorney General Waqar Rana filed the application and requested that the court set aside the ADSJ order. They challenged the powers of section 22-A, maintaining that the judiciary and executive were separate pillars of the state and judicial officers could not pass orders against administrative actions.
The applicants said that the police were deputed to protect state buildings and only resisted the protesters when they entered buildings and started damaging them.
The IHC will hear the petition next week.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2014.