ISLAMABAD  - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) today will take up PTI petition against the imposition of Section 144 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) here.
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Athar Minallah will conduct the hearing PTI petition alongside Abpara Traders Association President Ajmal Baloch’s petition against Pakistan Awani Tehrik (PAT) sit-in while calling it infringement upon fundamental rights.
Previously, the same bench had sought report from Inspector General (IG) Islamabad police regarding the attacks on Parliament House, PTV building and SSP (Operations) Asmatullah Junejo during the ongoing protests and sit-ins of PTI and PAT. The IHC bench had directed the IGP to submit a report explaining how many people till this time have been arrested for these attacks.
The bench had further directed that in case the arrest have not been made, the IG will himself have to explain as to why the police failed in performing its lawful duties and what action has been taken against the officials responsible for negligence.
During the hearing, an additional attorney general (AAG) had informed the court that he spoke to the district magistrate and he told him that the notification regarding imposition of section 144 has gone elapsed last day and government is not going to re-invoke the same. It is to mention here that section 144 was invoked in ICT on August 13. Regarding attacks on PTV and Parliament House buildings, PTI leader Azam Swati said that they had no involvement in the said attacks and they condemned the attack.
Justice Minallah expressed his astonishment over the administration’s passive attitude and said that prima facie it appears that the administration failed to perform its responsibilities and to maintain law & order.
He said that it was their duty to arrest those involved in attacking PTV building and breaking outer fence of the parliament house, damaging supreme court building and injuring SSP Asmatullah Junejo.
Then, the bench said that the persons involved in attacking the state buildings should be given exemplary punishment. He remarked that it is the responsibility of the state to arrest who are involved in spreading anarchy.
Meanwhile, as many as five CNG stations including Aaqa CNG and others Wednesday challenged before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) a presidential ordinance implementing Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) from September 24, 2014.
The petitioners moved the court through their counsel Raja Amjad advocate and cited Ministry of Petroleum, SNGPL and OGRA as respondents.
In the petition, they contended before the court that the implementation of GIDC is a violation of fundamental rights.
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui would hear this matter today.