IHC orders PTI, admin to sort out long march NOC issue

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday directed Islamabad administration and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to sort issue of no-objection certificate (NOC) with regard to PTI rally and sit-in otherwise the court would look into it.

The IHC issued the direction during hearing of a petition filed by the PTI against Islamabad administration’s refusal to grant it permission to hold a rally and sit-in in the federal capital. IHC’s Justice Aamer Farooq heard the main petition filed by the PTI seeking permission to hold its rally in Islamabad.

A miscellaneous petition was also filed by the Islamabad administration apprising the court that it could not allow the PTI to stage its rally and sit-in keeping in view the security situation and threat to Imran’s life that might endanger lives of other people participating in his long march.

The court on the ICT administration petition issued notice to the PTI. At the outset of the hearing, the court inquired from the state counsel whether he had submitted some petition.

On which, the prosecutor told the court that the suggested dates given by the PTI for holding its long march in its petition had already lapsed so the party’s petition had been rendered ineffective. He requested the court to reject the PTI plea for staging a rally and sit-in.

Justice Farooq remarked that a tragic incident happened during the PTI long march, so it would be appropriate that they should be given some time. The judge advised both the parties to sit together and sort out their issue, otherwise court would look into it. After this, the court adjourned the hearing till Friday.