ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued contempt of court notice to Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal for his failure to disperse the protesters who has been staging a sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange for 19 days.
The hearing has been adjourned till November 28 after Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui ordered the authorities to shift the protesters to Parade Ground within three days.
The judge said he would not allow shooting at the protesters but half of them could be dispersed with the use of a couple of tear gas shells.
Islamabad Commissioner told the court that the government has stopped the local authorities from taking action against the protesters .
He said the interior minister has also informed the court that he stopped the local administration in order to hold talks with the protesters.
Justice Siddiqui said it was beyond his comprehension that how a prime minister let alone a minister would go against court orders .
The judge asked under what authority the interior minister stopped the local administration from complying with the court orders.
The interior secretary said the use of unnecessary force can lead to a bloodshed.
The protesters belonging to religious parties — Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST) —are calling for the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and strict action against those behind the amendment to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017.
The amendment had earlier been deemed a ‘clerical error’ and has already been rectified.
The protesters had occupied the Faizabad Bridge which connects Rawalpindi and Islamabad through the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road, both of which are the busiest roads in the twin cities.