Govt files contempt of court petition against Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has filed a contempt of court petition against PTI Chairman Imran Khan at the Supreme Court for violating the court orders during the “Azadi March” that ended abruptly today.

The move came after the PTI chairman gave a six-day ultimatum to the government to announce the election date, vowing to return to Islamabad with three million people if his demand was not met.

Imran Khan openly flouted the Supreme Court’s directives and asked his party supporters to reach the D-Chowk in Islamabad’s Red Zone in violation of the orders to hold the rally at a designated place identified by the apex court.

The court had issued the instructions in this regard after hearing a petition of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) a day prior.

The government in its petition today stated that despite the SC order, PTI Chairman Imran Khan told his workers to gather at the D-Chowk and after changes in the security arrangements, the PTI workers damaged state property.

“PTI workers opened fire and two fire tenders, worth millions of rupees, were set on fire,” it said.

The government has pleaded the court to take action against Imran Khan.

When the hearing of the IHCBA petition resumed today, Justice Aijaul Ahsan told Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf that the government’s plea has been fixed for today and a larger bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial would hear it at 11:30am.

Justice Aijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi are also included in the bench.

On Wednesday, the court issued an order after hearing a petition of the IHCBA, directing the government and the PTI to hold a meeting and finalise the venue and the SOP for the rally.

The SC in its written order stated: “In view of the fact that a categorical assurance has been given on behalf of the top leadership of PTI that their rally would not cause any inconvenience or blockage of Srinagar Highway nor otherwise inconvenience the public and citizenry at large, and that it shall be ensured that the rally is conducted in a peaceful and lawful manner without, in particular, causing any damage of any nature to public or private property, we direct the Chief Commissioner, ICT to provide the same venue for the rally as was provided to JUI(F) sometime ago, which is (as noted above) the ground located between Sectors H-and G-9 area of the Islamabad.”

The court also directed the IGP to ensure that there is no delay in this regard and shall give a presentation by way of progress made/work completed to this court on the next date of hearing.

Article source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/960884-govt-files-contempt-of-court-petition-against-imran-khan