Challenging the sit-ins: LHC expresses dismay over Qadri, Imran’s no-show

The respondents are accused of violating the court’s order.

LAHORE: A full bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday expressed displeasure over not receiving a response from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri regarding petitions filed against their sit-ins.

Justices Khalid Mehmood Khan, Shahid Hameed Dar and Muhammad Anwarul Haq were hearing the petition. A Law Department official said that no notice was served to Qadri as he was not available at his Model Town residence. Judge Khan said it was surprising that a man who had been addressing rallies daily had become so difficult to reach. He directed the official to ensure that a notice was served on Qadri either at the sit-in in Islamabad or his residence in Lahore.

An associate of Khan’s counsel asked the court for more time to file a reply. A K Dogar, the counsel for the petitioners, said Qadri and Khan had flouted the court’s order by staging the Azadi and Inqilab Marches. He said the respondent had made themselves vulnerable to having contempt of court proceedings initiated against them by ignoring the order.

The bench had separately summoned the home secretary to explain the absence of a judicial inquiry report regarding an attempt to assassinate Qadri 23 years ago. The secretary had filed a written reply earlier saying that the government did not have a copy of the report. The bench directed the secretary to appear in person at the next hearing after receiving his reply.

Amjad Ali, the petitioner, had accused Qadri of creating instability in Pakistan by delivering provocative speeches at public gatherings.  He said Qadri had compromised the law and order situation by creating unrest in the country. Ali said PAT activists had beaten some policemen in Islamabad. He said that the right to free speech was subject to legal restraints. Ali requested the court to outlaw the PAT for being involved in unconstitutional activities. He said a judicial commission led by Justice Akhtar Hussain of the LHC had concluded that the assassination attempt on Qadri had been ‘a drama.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2014.