The Court order that halted operations at Zaman Park will continue to be in effect till tomorrow.
The PTI’s demonstration scheduled for Sunday at the Minar-e-Pakistan has been stopped by the court.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) head Imran Khan’s Zaman Park mansion in Lahore was the subject of a stop-work order issued by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday. The injunction will remain in effect until March 17. (tomorrow).
Following a formal request by the attorneys for the parties, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh postponed the case’s hearing to tomorrow.
A day earlier, Justice Sheikh had ordered the police to halt the Zaman Park operation until the Islamabad High Court decided whether to uphold the former prime minister and PTI leader’s non-bailable arrest warrant.
The LHC’s directive came as the Islamabad Police, with the support of the Punjab Police and the Rangers, had resumed their efforts, which had started on Tuesday, to apprehend the former premier in connection with the Toshkhana case. Due to Imran’s repeated attempts to avoid being charged, the judge issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for him.
But, PTI employees resisted them vehemently and hurled stones at them. Tear gas bursts were used by the police as a response.
Following hours of back and forth, which the foreign media referred to as “pitched fighting,” the personnel pulled back to Mall Road and emptied out.
PTI refrained from organizing a rally at the Minar-e-Pakistan.
As a result of the present law and order situation, the LHC prevented the PTI leadership from having a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan.
Judge Tariq Saleem Sheikh presided over the hearing and noted that the existing scenario in the provincial capital has “tarnished the image of Pakistan around the world”.
In order to make the necessary security measures, Justice Sheikh further ordered that the authorities should be informed at least 15 days in advance of the planned rally procession.
To address their concerns regarding “implementation of the former prime minister’s non-bailable arrest warrant, security plan, and imposition of Section 144,” the LHC judge also ordered the PTI leadership to meet with Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar and the additional chief secretary.
The court was hearing a variety of petitions, such as requests for protective bail in various FIRs, a “safe method” for Imran to get to LHC, and an end to the “atrocities” of the police officers against the PTI leader, his political party and its leadership, as well as the general population at Zaman Park.
Judge Sheikh questioned if the petitioner was in the courtroom as today’s proceedings got underway. PTI attorney Advocate Azhar Siddique responded by informing the court that he is on his way and will arrive there in a short while.
Irked at the statement, Justice Sheikh replied “this is how serious you people are, when this court fixed this matter for 10am then you should have reached on time”.
The judge pointed out that neither the petitioner nor the respondent sides are fully conversant with the law and questioned how both parties could come to an agreement until the law was extensively examined.
The LHC judge stated, “Solution is there but none of the parties is serious to look through the books.
The PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry was then questioned by Justice Sheikh on the security issue.
To this, the PTI leader stated that security has become a severe issue, adding that “there is a hundred per cent threat to Imran in Islamabad’s G-8 court and the competent authorities have been conveyed about the same”.
The points put forth by the petitioner’s attorney were contested by Advocate General Punjab Shan Gull.
Furthermore, the PTI workers severely attacked the personnel stationed at Zaman Park and threw petrol bombs their way, according to the IGP of Punjab.
Anwar pledged that the police do not want any “no go areas” in the provincial capital and that they are willing to meet down with the PTI to discuss the problems.
The LHC court subsequently put the hearing on hold until March 17.
The former prime minister promised a power exhibition at Miner-e-Pakistan on March 19 earlier this week (Sunday).
