PTI’ Azadi March: SC seeks report from ISI on Islamabad riots
The Supreme Court has issued a detailed decision regarding the Islamabad Bar Council’s petition over PTI’s Azadi March and has sought a report from the ISI and other relevant authorities within a week to determine the violation of the court orders on May 25 Islamabad riots.
The Supreme Court has issued a detailed 14-page judgment on the protest at the request of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, written by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial wrote that the petition filed by the Islamabad Bar Association had complained that the federal government had closed highways and roads on May 25 to prevent the arrival of protesters in Islamabad.
In this regard, it was said that after assurances of peaceful protest by the PTI leadership, the three-member bench directed the higher authorities to prepare the place of protest and provide security while all the protesting parties and protesters also instructed to remain peaceful.
Then on May 25, at 10:30 pm, the Attorney General of Pakistan filed a petition alleging that the PTI leadership, especially Chairman Imran Khan, had allowed his workers and supporters to march on Islamabad despite assurances given by the court. He directed to reach D-Chowk located in the red zone of the capital.
The verdict said that Babar Awan and Faisal Farid had assured the court that the roads would not be blocked in their party’s long march and that the people would not face any difficulties due to it and ensuring peaceful protest. No damage will be done to public and private property after which IG Islamabad was directed to make arrangements for the march.
According to the court decision, the Attorney General said that Imran Khan, despite promising to hold a rally in H-9 / G-9 area of Islamabad, directed his supporters and workers to reach D-Chowk in the red zone. A video recording of Imran Khan was also played in which he could be heard instructing his workers.
The verdict said that Imran Khan invited his supporters to disobey the court order which resulted in damage to private and public property, setting fire to some trees in the green belt of Islamabad’s Blue Area. 31 policemen were injured in the pelting of stones by the mob and at night Article 245 was enforced and the army was called in.
The decision said that the Attorney General requested the court to take action against Imran Khan for violating the assurance given to the court.
According to the attorney general, Imran Khan later morning issued a statement on Jinnah Avenue after tear gas shelling by law enforcement agencies that he would not continue the sit-in in D-Chowk and gave the government six days ultimatum to dissolve the assemblies and announce the date of elections.
The court observed that the assurances given to the court by the top leadership of PTI were not respected and the question arises as to whether the PTI senior was responsible for this irresponsible act of the mob.
The written decision said that the incidents that took place after the court orders need to be investigated and verified so that it can be decided who should be prosecuted for violating the assurance given to the court.
