LHC bars Imran from holding PTI 'power show' at Minar-e-Pakistan

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court barred Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan from holding his party's "power show" at Minar-e-Pakistan scheduled for this Sunday.

Khan had announced a "historic" jalsa on Sunday (March 19) at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore despite security concerns.

PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry had moved the high court a day earlier seeking to stop the police operation in the Zaman Park area to arrest Khan in the Toshakhana case as per court orders.

After an initial hearing, the high court had ordered police to suspend the operation till 10am today — which helped calm the situation at the former prime minister's residence which had turned into a battleground.

As the hearing resumed today, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh told Fawad his party was not following the law and causing trouble for the whole nation. "For God's sake, let people's life continue," he said.

Before this, Justice Sheikh questioned where Fawad was, to which his lawyer said the PTI leader was on his way.

The court asked why Fawad had not reached at 10am when that was the time given by the court.

PTI workers clashed for nearly 24 hours with law enforcers trying to get through the party supporters and arrest Khan, who was voted out as the prime minister last April.

Scores of people — mostly police personnel — were injured in the process as the law enforcers fired teargas and party supporters resorted to throwing Molotov cocktails.

Legal proceedings against Khan began after he was ousted from office in a parliamentary vote early last year. Since then, he has held nationwide protest rallies demanding a snap election, during one of which he was shot and wounded.

Today's hearing

As the hearing was underway, Justice Saleem said that he does not "find any issue" in the situation, but noted that neither of the parties involved in the case has read the law.

"All of these issues have arisen because the law was not read," he said, adding that today, "all of us will read the law together". He said that both sides have "jammed the system".

Justice Saleem reprimanded the PTI counsel and said that the issue is of Khan's warrants and the party keeps knocking on the doors of both IHC and LHC. "You are unaware of where you have to plead. We just have to follow the law in this case."

As Fawad entered the courtroom, the judge told him that his party was not following the law. "You [people] have pushed the nation into suffering."

At this, the PTI leader told the court that when the party chief has to appear before four courts subsequently, it becomes hard for him. "We are 100% sure about an attack on Imran Khan and that is why we had requested his presence at hearings via video link."

The judge then said that there is a proper procedure for seeking security for a person and stressed that the party should bring "itself inside the system's ambit".

The judge then slammed the party for not planning its public gathering ahead of time and said that if they wanted to hold a jalsa, then the preparations should have begun 15 days prior.

"For God's sake, let the people live their routine lives. Your rally will not take place this Sunday. Even if a person gets married, they plan ahead," he said.

The judge then asked the party leader to sit down with authorities and sort out the issue. "We are being embarrassed as a nation," the judge remarked, asking the PTI to once again reschedule its rally.

Punjab Advocate General Shan Gul then told the judge that IHC's order has also been issued. The advocate general said that there is no need for this hearing.

At this, Justice Saleem said that he has not touched the arrest warrants. "Neither the Lahore High Court nor the Islamabad High Court stopped from executing the arrest warrants."

The court then adjourned the hearing till 11am tomorrow.