Fundamental rights being violated on pretext of law and order: Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb has observed that fundamental rights of the people are being violated on the pretext of law and order issues.

He made the observation on Monday during a hearing of a contempt of court plea against the Islamabad chief commissioner with regard to not giving permission to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold a rally.

Justice Aurangzeb directed the parties to sit together and find a solution to the matter. The bench directed the office to fix the matter before the IHC chief justice. The IHC observed that holding a public meeting was a basic right of the PTI and their application was hereby granted.

The Islamabad advocate general (AG) requested the high court to extend its direction with regard to holding of public meeting after the Islamic month of Muharram.He informed the IHC that the processions and events of Muharram would continue till Chehlum. He said the PTI may hold a public meeting after Muharram and the administration had submitted details in this regard.

The PTI’s counsel Shoaib Shaheen questioned about the people who were sitting in Faizabad and asked the AG whether they had obtained the permission for their sit-in. To this, Justice Aurangzeb asked who was sitting in Faizabad.

Shaheen submitted that people sitting in Faizabad were not being stopped by anyone. He submitted that the PTI had held hundreds of rallies at F-Nine Park till date and there had been no problem so far.Justice Aurangzeb inquired whether the ceremonies of August 14 would be held and any orders had been issued to stop them as well. To this, the Islamabad AG said that no such order had been issued.

Shaheen said the PTI would cooperate if the government allowed it to hold a rally. He said the party would take care of all security matters itself. He said that everyone except the PTI was allowed to hold public processions. He said that he had also met the chief commissioner who directly told him that the PTI’s public meeting could not be held.

Justice Aurangzeb observed that it was a constitutional right of the petitioner to hold a meeting. The IHC granted the PTI’s request to hold a public meeting.

The high court also inquired about the statement of the interior ministry on the matter. The court was informed that the interior ministry had also suggested that the public meeting be held after Chehlum.Later, the IHC directed the parties to together and find a solution to the matter. He also issued directives to fix the matter next Monday before the IHC chief justice.