The Supreme Court ordered the government to help the PTI stage a rally between the H-9 and G-9 regions of the federal capital on Wednesday.
When the Supreme Court hearing started after a brief recess, the attorney-general informed the three-member court that the site, which will be provided to the PTI, could only hold 10,000 people.
He further mentioned that the area was adjacent to a Sunday mart and the Sirinigar Highway.
The panel, however, ignored the Attorney-General of Pakistan (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf Ali’s advise and ordered the government to provide security to the PTI rally within three hours.
During the hearing, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan questioned PTI lawyer Babar Awan on the date of the gathering.
“Till when will the gathering go on for?” asked Justice Ahsan.
Awan responded that the decision must be made by the political leadership.
In response, Justice Ahsan stated that the Supreme Court can revise, amend, or reverse its order. He also stated that the bench will keep an eye on the situation.
“Talks between the government committee and PTI committee should be held at 10pm tonight at the chief commissioner’s office,” said the court. It directed the deputy commissioner, interior secretary, and inspector-general Islamabad to make sure the meeting take place.
“Arrested political leadership and workers should be freed at once,” said the court. It also ordered the government to follow the point agreed between the JUI-F and PTI during the former’s 2019 long march.
“Any new clause should be included in the agreement through mutual consultation and the court should also be informed about it,” said the bench.
Before the break, the court had ordered the appropriate authorities to undertake deliberations on permission for the PTI demonstration on H9 ground and report back to the court.
The orders were issued at a hearing of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association’s (IHCBA) appeal against the government’s decision to close roads in the federal capital today (Wednesday) to prevent the PTI’s “Azadi March.”
The case was heard by a three-member SC bench led by Justice Ahsan. During the hearing, Islamabad Chief Commissioner and Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Akbar Nasir Khan appeared in court.
