ISLAMABAD, Nov 17(ABC): The Supreme Court of Pakistan Thursday dismissed a plea seeking to stop PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s long march, terming the petition infructuous.
“Prima facie, the court’s interference on the issue would be premature […] court will exercise judicial restraint in such political matters,” Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said as he heard the case while presiding over a three-member bench — including Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Ayesha Malik.
JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza had moved the court last week, seeking to stop the long march, but the SC told him that if the law and order situation worsens, he could file a fresh plea.
PTI’s long march is moving forward with every passing day and the government has warned the party against engaging in violence once it enters the capital — which is expected by this week. However, the party has assured that it will not indulge in violence.
Today’s hearing
At the outset of the hearing, Murtaza said it’s been two weeks since Khan’s long march kicked off, and according to PTI Senior Vice President, it will reach Islamabad by this Friday.
“Everyday life of people has been disrupted due to the long march. PTI reserves its right to hold a long march, but in no way is it allowed to disturb a commoner’s life.”
At this, Justice Ayesha asked the lawyer whether the government had introduced a mechanism to regulate the protests. Justice Minallah also asked Murtaza whether he thought that the administration had become so weak that it could not handle the long march.
“This is a matter related to the executive [government], you should approach them,” Justice Minallah told Murtaza, as he noted that in unusual circumstances, the court could intervene.
“When the administration has the authority to control the long march, why should the courts intervene?” he wondered.
In response, Murtaza said things have gotten out of hand now as, during the long march, a person lost their life in Wazirabad — and Khan was also injured.
Then, Justice Ayesha asked the petitioner since the long march has been continuing now for so many days, did he approach the district administration.
‘Difficult situation’
In his remarks, CJP Bandial told Murtaza that he had cited the violations of the previous long march and asked the court to intervene in the matter. “But the long march is a political issue, there is a political solution to it as well.”
He told the petitioner that when the judiciary gets involved in political matters, it creates a “difficult situation” for the court.
“You have also cited an audio leak in your petition. In the audio, there is a conversation about bringing weapons [to Islamabad]. Whether or not this audio is real, there is a chance that the law and order situation might get affected,” the CJP said.