ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamir Farooq on Wednesday expressed displeasure at the government’s lockdown-like measures in Islamabad, aimed at detaining Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists. “Do or die” was to stop protesting. The party announced in the federal capital.
During the hearing of the contempt petition filed by the businessmen, the IHC chief justice remarked that “PTI was wrong and so was the government.”
Criticizing the administration for effectively shutting down Islamabad, the judge said: “You should have maintained peace, but you shut down the entire city”.
The current government, since the protests called by the PTI founder, moved to prevent the protesters from reaching and entering the federal capital.
Apart from deploying a large number of riot police personnel, the administration blocked several roads within the federal capital and various routes leading to the city with shipping containers.
However, despite these measures, PTI convoys managed to enter Islamabad and reach D Chowk in the Red Zone, where sensitive government buildings including the Parliament House are located.
The whole “final call” story of the protest eventually culminated in PTI’s hasty withdrawal from Islamabad after the government’s midnight crackdown on the protesters.
The party founded by Imran Khan has since claimed that several of its workers were killed and around 1,000 arrested. The government has categorically denied using live ammunition against the protesters.
Referring to the IHC’s November 21 order, Justice Farooq stressed that the court had clearly directed the authorities to uphold the fundamental rights of citizens, traders and protesters.
Turning his attention to the PTI, the IHC chief justice said he would also seek an answer for non-compliance with court orders. “What was the fault of the petitioners? Why were their businesses forcibly closed?” he asked.
Expressing his personal distress, the IHC chief judge said: “Islamabad was sealed off in such a way that even judges, including me, could not enter.” “I was a victim of my own order,” he added.
The court adjourned the hearing till next week, directing the interior ministry to submit a comprehensive report of the incidents.
The petition filed by the traders highlighted the economic losses caused by prolonged roadblocks and demanded accountability from both parties.