The Supreme Court has asked the Islamabad chief commissioner to provide an alternative venue to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its long march which is due to take place today (Wednesday).
The order came during the hearing of a petition filed by the PTI demanding the removal of containers and road blockages. A three-member bench headed by Justice Ahsan, and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, heard the petition.
According to the bench, the protest could not be held on Srinagar Highway, and asked the PTI to come up with an alternative venue for the protest by 2:30 PM today.
The Islamabad chief commissioner was also directed to draft up a traffic plan and assist the PTI in coming up with a replacement location.
“Let them protest and then go home,” Justice Ahsan said. “We expect the government to remove barricades.”
“The Supreme Court wants that people’s daily routine is not disturbed,” Justice Ahsan added.
The court also required guarantees from PTI that their protest would be peaceful, without any violence, torture or damage to property.
Justice Ahsan directed PTI’s counsel Faisal Chaudhry to sit at the ‘negotiation table’ with the administration officials and gave him time till 2:30 PM to deliberate with the his party’s leaders before arriving at a decision.
The court also directed authorities to provide complete protection to PTI leaders for the negotiations.
“If the PTI fears arrests, it should provide us with a list. We will protect those who fear arrests,” Justice Ahsan said.
More to follow.
