ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge on Friday said that if roads are blocked by protest sit-ins or shipping containers, it is the civic administration’s responsibility to unblock them.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani made these remarks while hearing a plea against PTI leader Zahid Akbar’s arrest and subsequent imprisonment. “Several cases are registered by the police on behalf of the state, they are heard, and governments change. However, action can be taken only when there is a wrongful act,” the court said. .
The IHC ordered the law enforcement agency to release PTI leader Zahid Akbar. Justice Kayani read out the judgment a few minutes after reserving it. A week ago, Akbar was picked up by the police from his house for allegedly conspiring to vandalize a metro bus station in the federal capital. During the hearing, the court asked the public prosecutor why Akbar was arrested and kept in jail. The prosecutor replied that the SHO Industrial Area had told that the said person was talking about the “burn and siege” campaign.
On which Justice Kayani said that did any such incident happen in Islamabad? The prosecutor replied, “No sir, no such incident has happened in the capital so far”. The PTI, which was halted after the assassination attack on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Wazirabad, has resumed its long march towards Islamabad.
On a similar petition, the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench expressed its displeasure at the Rawalpindi administration’s mismanagement, blocking of roads and closure of educational institutions.
Justice Waqas Rauf Mirza of Lahore High Court, while hearing the petition of citizen Raja Khalid Mehmood against the closure of roads and educational institutions due to protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at various places in Rawalpindi, remarked that roads and educational institutions are closed Institutions were closed and the administration was sleeping. The court questioned the Commissioner Rawalpindi as to why he was acting as a facilitator for those blocking the roads.
The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench adjourned the hearing of the case till November 16 and directed the commissioner to submit a written statement of action against the responsible. Commissioner Rawalpindi, Deputy Commissioner and SSP Operations were also present.
Earlier, the Lahore High Court had rejected PTI’s plea to stop the long march towards Islamabad. During the hearing, Justice Jawad Hasan said that peaceful protest is the fundamental right of every citizen and political party, the court had issued similar orders in previous cases as well. Later, the learned judge adjourned the hearing till November 14, issuing a notice to all the parties. The application was filed by Mall Road Traders Association Lahore. In which it was said that citizens belonging to all walks of life are facing problems due to the long march and it was demanded to stop it immediately.
