The ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has started a sit-in in Islamabad on Monday against the Supreme Judiciary after the recent arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for ‘facilitation’. It has been protested. Qadir Trust Case.
Protesters, including activists and supporters of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), camped outside the Supreme Court, with many climbing the judges’ gate after entering the red zone. Seen
Maryam says SC judges verdicts responsible for country’s “destruction”
Addressing the protesters, Maryam said that the ruling PDM does not want to sit outside the Supreme Court because it respects the constitution and judges.
The development and destruction of the country is connected with this building. The decisions of the judiciary are responsible for the destruction of the country.
He also made it clear that his criticism was not directed at the judges but at those elements of the Supreme Court who were providing “facilitation” to PTI chief Imran Khan.
Addressing Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandyal, Maryam said, “Are you happy to see this sea of people or not?”
Citizens advised to avoid going to red zone
Islamabad Police advised citizens to avoid the red zone area as protesters are present there and assured that the situation is still peaceful.
“Citizens should keep an eye on their surroundings and report any suspicious activity immediately to 15,” the Capital Police said on its Twitter handle.
مظاہرین اس وقت ریڈ زون میں موجود ہیں، شہریوں سے گزارش ہے کہ اس طرف جانے سے گریز کریں۔
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) May 15, 2023
حالات تاحال پرامن ہیں۔ شہری اپنے اردگرد کے ماحول پر نظر رکھیں اور کسی بھی مشکوک سرگرمی کی اطلاع فوراً پکار 15 پر دیں۔#ICTP #Islamabad
Maryam, Fazl arrive at sit-in venue
The leadership of PDM including its chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and senior vice president of Muslim League (N) Maryam Nawaz have reached the sit-in and stepped on the stage.
چیف آرگنائزر مسلم لیگ ن مریم نواز شریف سپریم کورٹ کے باہر دھرنے کے اسٹیج پر موجود
— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 15, 2023
کارکنوں کے نعروں کا ہاتھ ہلا کر جواب#عدل_بحال_کرانا_ہے pic.twitter.com/76HtA4MQGs
Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Interior and Legal Affairs, also reached Dastur Highway earlier.
PTI chief terms PDM protesters “goons”
The PTI chief reacted to the PDM sit-in on Twitter, calling the protesters “thugs” who are being “facilitated by our security agencies to take over the SC and subvert the constitution.” “.
Khan has asked all citizens to be ready for “peaceful protests”, sharing fears about the “end of the holy dream” after the collapse of the constitution and the Supreme Court.
So without any investigation into who was responsible for arson on government building or dozens of deaths of unarmed protesters by bullet wounds , around 7000 PTI workers , leadership and our women have been jailed with plans to ban the largest and only federal party in Pak .… pic.twitter.com/7p8uiPaYhc
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 15, 2023
Earlier, Fazlur Rahman rejected the government’s request from the Supreme Court to shift the sit-in.
Following the imposition of Section 144 in the federal capital, the Islamabad Police has urged protesters to remain peaceful, warning of the dangers of terrorism.
مظاہرین سے گذارش ہے کہ پرامن رہیں۔
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) May 15, 2023
دہشت گردی کے خدشات موجود ہیں۔
عوام سے گذارش ہے کہ اجتماع والے مقامات سے دور رہیں۔#ICTP
Convoys of PDM’s allied parties including JUI-F and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have left to join the protest in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, protesters in Gilgit-Baltistan blocked the main intersection inside the district headquarters Astor, protesting at the Eidgah Ali Murtaza on the call of the JUI(F) chief.
Convoys of protesters are leaving from Rawalpindi, Kohat, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan and Malakand to join the protest in the federal capital.
The PML-N convoy from Rawalpindi is led by Hanif Abbasi and Sardar Naseem and will enter Faizabad in Islamabad through Murree Road in Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has also announced to join the sit-in.
The development was shared by Chaudhry Shafi Hussain, a Muslim League (Q) politician and son of party supremo Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who said his convoy had reached Islamabad to participate in the protest outside the Supreme Court.
‘Threats of terrorism’
Islamabad police warned protesters of “terrorist threats” after they entered the red zone and had earlier asked citizens to cooperate and remain calm.
However, the police said that the situation was peaceful.
Police sources told JEE News that the stage for the sit-in will be built at some distance from the Supreme Court.
Police sources said that there is no objection to setting up a stage in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Prime Minister’s House.
He added that his strategy is against placing the stage before the Supreme Court.
‘Sit-in subject to interior ministry approval’
According to the district administration, the protestors entered the red zone via Serena intersection and pushed the police and administration.
“The protestors were informed by the administration about the government’s orders,” the administration said.
The local administration and the police have informed the Ministry of Interior about the situation of the protest. “The district administration had decided to allow the PDM to protest, but this is subject to the Home Ministry’s approval.”
