No one can be deprived of the right to protest, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial says
\nnews desk
\nislamabad
\nThe Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the federal government\u2019s request to immediately stop PTI chief Imran Khan\u2019s long march to Islamabad, with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial advising the government to hold talks with the former prime minister.
\nThe federal government filed a contempt of court plea against the PTI chairman in the Supreme Court over his long march to the federal capital.
\nIn its petition, the government said, \u201cImran Khan is making announcements to attack Islamabad\u201d, which it claimed was a violation of a court order. It urged the apex court to direct the PTI chief to ensure the implementation of its orders related to protests and sit-ins.
\nA five-member bench, headed by CJP Bandial, comprising Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Sayyed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi heard the plea today.
\nA day earlier, Khan said PTI will kick off its long march on October 28 (Friday) from Lahore.
\nThe former prime minister said that all party workers, supporters and leaders will gather at Lahore\u2019s Liberty Chowk at 11am from where they will march towards Islamabad.
\nToday\u2019s hearing
\nIn his arguments during the hearing, Additional Attorney General Aamir Rahman said that the reports of police and intelligence institutions have been reviewed.
\nThe additional attorney general said that the court had first asked when did the PTI chief give a call for the long march.
\nHe said that the court order came on May 25 at 6pm, while the announcement was made by Khan at 6:50pm and he made the second announcement at 9:54pm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PTI had requested to stage a sit-in at the Srinagar Highway,\u201d he said. \u201cKhan had also announced to go to D-Chowk even before the court order.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rahman said that later PTI leaders Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhary, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Usman Dar, Shahbaz Gill, and Saifullah Niazi also gave a call to party workers to arrive at D chowk.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the court sought a response from Khan over the plea seeking contempt proceedings against him.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom Khan\u2019s statement, it seems like he was informed about the court\u2019s orders as he said that the SC ordered removing barricades,\u201d the CJP remarked as he summoned the PTI chairman to clarify before the court who said what.<\/p>\n
Rehman contended that Khan\u2019s latest call to reach D-chowk is a contempt of court, he said, while referring to the end of PTI\u2019s long march at Jinnah Avenue on May 26.<\/p>\n
\u201cKhan crossed the restricted area H9 and reached Blue Area where he ended the rally,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The additional attorney general further stated that PTI lawyers Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhry assured the court that they would not cross the restricted area.<\/p>\n
At this, CJP Bandial said that Rehman\u2019s argument has some weight therefore it would be better to seek a response from those who assured.<\/p>\n
\u2018Not necessary\u2019
\nDuring the hearing, Justice Bandial said that the reports have enough justification that Khan should submit an answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if a notice is served, it is not necessary for Khan to appear,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The chief justice added that the court doesn\u2019t want to make the headlines, it only wants the rule of law to prevail. \u201cOne has to show up when a show-cause notice in the contempt case of civil nature is served,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Justice Yahya said that the court cannot seek an answer from anyone without notice.<\/p>\n
The court also directed to provide the police, ISI, and IB reports to Khan and said that the PTI chief should provide an answer in light of these reports.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court also sought answers from former premier\u2019s lawyers Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhary.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not issuing notice as of yet,\u201d said the CJP, adding that a notice would give an impression that the proceedings have started.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Justice Yahya issued a show-cause notice to Khan according to the previous differing note.<\/p>\n
The court ordered that the PTI chairman and his lawyers should submit an answer by October 31.<\/p>\n
The court adjourned the hearing till October 31.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
No one can be deprived of the right to protest, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial says news desk islamabad The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the federal government\u2019s request to immediately stop PTI chief Imran Khan\u2019s long march to Islamabad, with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial advising the government to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":226293,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[158,7607,292],"class_list":{"0":"post-291787","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-pti","9":"tag-pti-long-march","10":"tag-supreme-court"},"yoast_head":"\n