IHC Chief Justice Criticizes Government and PTI Over November 24 Protest
PTI had acted improperly, the government and administration also had their share of responsibility in the situation, IHC chief said.
Islamabad: The Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, Justice Amir Farooq, expressed strong discontent with both the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party during the hearing of a contempt of court petition filed by Islamabad’s traders against the PTI’s November 24 protest. Justice Farooq criticized the government and administration for their handling of the protest, stating, “If PTI did something wrong, the government did something wrong as well.”
The petition, filed by traders in Islamabad, accused the PTI of violating court orders during the protest, which led to significant disruptions across the city, including the closure of businesses. During the hearing, Justice Farooq raised concerns about the government’s failure to maintain law and order, saying, “You were supposed to restore peace and order, but you ended up shutting down the entire city.” He emphasized that while the PTI had acted improperly, the government and administration also had their share of responsibility in the situation.
Justice Farooq remarked that the court had instructed the authorities to ensure the protection of citizens’ rights, including those of business owners and protesters. He further questioned why the business community’s rights had been disregarded, adding, “If PTI did wrong, the government did wrong as well. What was the fault of the traders? Why were their businesses shut down?”
In response to the petition, the Islamabad High Court Chief Justice directed the Ministry of Interior to submit a detailed report regarding the events of the protest. He also reprimanded the State Counsel, Malik Abdul Rehman, and questioned the quality of the reports that had been submitted so far. Justice Farooq expressed frustration, noting, “You blocked Islamabad so completely that even judges, including myself, could not get through. I ended up being a victim of my own order.”
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The court will resume hearings on the case next week, and the Ministry of Interior has been tasked with providing a comprehensive report to clarify the events surrounding the protest.
This development adds to the growing tension between the PTI, the government, and the judiciary, as the handling of the protest remains under scrutiny.
