The Islamabad administration has filed a contempt of court petition and show-cause notice against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) for planning to set up a stage blocking Srinagar Highway as part of its its long-march to Islamabad.
The JUI-F had received a no-objection certificate (NOC) for its rally on the condition that the party ‘not disturb the fundamental rights of citizens,’ as reported in the Tribune. The Islamabad administration had determined that the stage over the Srinagar Highway would unduly block traffic.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the Islamabad administration to decide on whether or not to allow political rallies in the federal capital on the eve of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Saturday indicated that all parties would be allowed to hold rallies in Islamabad, but no parties would be allowed to assemble a sit-in or enter the Red Zone of government buildings.
The JUI-F had announced plans that it will enter Islamabad on March 26 and gather on Srinagar Highway, one of major throughways through the city.
Both the opposition and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have planned rallies this week in Islamabad in a display of power and support from their constituents. PTI has said they will assemble at D-Chowk near the National Assembly.
Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat called on both sides of the aisle to ease partisan tensions and cancel their respective rallies scheduled for the eve of the no-trust vote, stating that neither side should engage in ‘provocative politics’.
