Imran Khan’s Long March
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial warned on Thursday that the political establishment that there would be repercussions if they disobeyed the law and the constitution. CJP passed these remarks while hearing the government plea in which the government is requesting to stop Khan from inciting a law-and-order crisis in support of the party’s planned long march to Islamabad.
While presiding over the five-member bench hearing the government’s contempt petition against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former premier Imran Khan, CJP Bandial said that “Ours is not a political job.” The bench also includes Justices Ijaz ul Ahsan, Munib Akhtar, Yahya Afridi, and Sayyed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi.
Examine security agencies’ findings
Bandial advised the Attorney General of Pakistan to examine the security agencies’ findings and said political battles should not take place on the streets. “You want to avoid a war in the streets, so de we,” the CJP said while adjourning the court till Wednesday, October 26, 2022 adding, “If something comes up in the meanwhile, we will take needed measures”. CJP added.
The Interior Ministry submitted the petition on October 13 in an effort to start contempt proceedings under Article 204 of the Constitution against Imran Khan for disobeying and ignoring the rulings of the Supreme Court’s ruling on May 25, 2022, on a petition filed by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association.
In the Interior Ministry petition against Imran Khan, it is requested for the issuance of the necessary directives to carry out the Supreme Court’s order of May 25, 2022 and to safeguard the fundamental rights of the general populace, particularly those of the citizens of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Detailed guidelines for all future protests
Interior Ministry also requested that the apex court issue detailed guidelines for all future protests in the federal capital, including advance notification of the date, venue selection, guarantees that protests won’t disrupt daily life, and a commitment to make sure that protesters don’t damage any public or private property in order to safeguard citizens’ fundamental rights to personal safety and freedom of movement, which are guaranteed by the Constitution.
