IHC CJ flays govt for misusing his orders during PTI protest

Expressing its strong displeasure over the closure of the federal capital by the government ahead of the PTI’s November 24 protest, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday said the most unfortunate part was that the government said it had done so on the IHC orders, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

During the hearing of the petition filed by the traders of Islamabad, seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the PTI leadership, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Aamer Farooq said that the government’s job was only to maintain the law and order in the capital city during the protest. “The court had ordered the protection of the basic rights of all segments of the society, including traders and the protestors. But what the government did was the opposite of that. It sealed the entire city.”

He said the city was sealed in such a manner that it was hard even for the judges to go to courts. “I fell victim to my own orders,” the judge regretted.  

The CJ said he would also ask the PTI leaders as to why they flouted the court orders. “But the thing is that if the PTI violated the orders, the government did the same,” he said, and questioned what was the fault of the petitioners that their businesses were also shut. 

Justice Farooq ordered the Ministry of Interior to submit a detailed report in this regard. 

Speaking on the occasion, State Counsel Malik Abdur Rehman told the court that some of the reports had been submitted while some were still to be submitted.  

Later the court adjourned the case’s hearing until next week. 

Reporter: Ihtesham Kiani