Alleged loss of lives during PTI protest: Constitutional bench declines to take suo motu notice

ISLAMABAD: The Constitutional bench on Wednesday declined to take suo motu notice of alleged loss of lives during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest rally in Islamabad.

A five-member Constitutional bench formed under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard a case related to establishment of an authority to deal with issues related to climate change.

Other members of the bench included Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Musarat Hilali.

During the course of hearing, KP Additional Advocate General Shah Faisal, while appearing before the bench through video link from Peshawar Registry, verbally requested the bench to take suo motu notice of loss of lives on both sides during the PTI protest march.

Justice Musarat Hilali, however, asked the additional advocate general to refrain from issuing political statements before the bench. Similarly, Justice Aminuddin Khan observed that they could not address the matter which was not before them. Justice Mandokhail observed that they do not wish to comment on issues outside the court’s purview. The constitutional bench then rejected the verbal plea of KP’s additional advocate general.

Meanwhile, the bench also disposed of a plea filed by founder PTI Imran Khan related to merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Babar Awan, counsel for the PTI founder chairman, submitted before the court that as the matter has already been finalised by the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Assembly, hence no further judicial action was necessary on the petition.