Verdict in PTI rally case reserved

LAHORE

A full bench of the Lahore High Court Wednesday reserved verdict for Thursday (today) on petitions against and in favour of the PTI rally as all sides concluded their arguments. 

The bench was also holding proceedings on the petition of Advocate AK Dogar praying for a ban on the PTI rally which would cause clash among the activists of the two political parties. The PTI had filed a petition for directions to the government not to harass its activists and block roads for its activists to stop them from participating in the rally. Appearing before the court, Advocate Ahmed Awais, counsel for PTI leader Waleed Iqbal, submitted that the PTI is continuing its struggle to end corruption in the country. He said Panama papers have disclosed assets of PM’s family abroad. He said the PTI at every forum demanded investigation into the matter. He said in this regard, the PTI has organised a mass rally on September 30 at Adda Plot, Lahore, but the PML-N activists and ministers are hurling threats to PTI activists. He said the police are arresting the PTI activists to flop the rally. Awais said peaceful protest is the basic right of the PTI activists. He requested the court to take action against the government functionaries from intimidating the PTI activists and making their arrests without any law. He demanded action against PML-N ministers Abid Sher Ali and Zaeem Qadri.  Justice Dar asked the PTI counsel that what objections they have on the security arrangements of the government. He said in their previous protest in Lahore, two patients died due to traffic blockade. He said is he ready to ensure that there would be no traffic jam due to their protest rally? At this, Advocate Awais said if roads are not blocked with containers, there would be no traffic jam. AK Dogar said according to the constitution, opposition supposed to obey the state. He said the opposition cannot try to topple the elected government of people. He said Imran Khan is trying to topple the government and spreading hate among people against the government. He said no country can survive without peace. He said in the name of protest politics, Imran Khan has ruined the peace of the people. He said he delivered speeches having indecent worlds. He said freedom of speech does not mean to say insulting remarks against anybody. Additional Attorney General Naseer Bhutta submitted before the court that PTI can protest remaining in the law but it should clear its legal limits. He said in Islamabad protest despite clear instructions of the court of holding protest in accordance with the law, the PTI protesters entered the state-run TV office, entered the red zone, damaged the wall of the parliament, and the government had to call the army. He said this act of the protesters embarrassed Pakistan world over as Chinese president had to cancel his visit to Pakistan. At this, Justice Dar said it is the duty of the government to provide security to the protesters.