Politics

LHC prohibits PTI from holding rally on Sunday at Minar-e-Pakistan

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

Neither LHC nor IHC stopped execution of Khan’s warrants, court says.
Court also stops police’s operation at Zaman Park till tomorrow.
“For God’s sake, let the people live their routine lives,” court adds.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Thursday stopped the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from holding a rally this Sunday at Iqbal Park (Minar-e-Pakistan) and asked the party to let citizens live their routine lives.

The party was planning to hold a “historic” public rally at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan on March 19 and PTI Chairman Imran Khan was set to lead it — despite “security threats”.

PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry had moved the high court a day earlier seeking to stop the police operation in the Zaman Park area. The police had taken action to arrest Khan in the Toshakhana case as per court orders.

After an initial hearing, the high court had ordered police to suspend the operation till 10am today — which helped calm the situation at the former prime minister’s residence which had turned into a battleground.

But today, when Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh resumed the hearing, he noted that neither the LHC nor the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had stopped the law enforcers from executing the deposed prime minister’s arrest warrants.

In the order issued later, the court said that the “order passed yesterday” shall remain enforced till the next hearing — meaning that the Zaman Park operation has been halted till tomorrow.

PTI workers clashed for nearly 24 hours with the law enforcers trying to get through the party supporters and arrest Khan, who was voted out as the prime minister last April.

Scores of people — mostly police personnel — were injured in the process as the law enforcers fired teargas and party supporters resorted to throwing Molotov cocktails.

Legal proceedings against Khan began after he was ousted from office in a parliamentary vote early last year. Since then, he has held nationwide protest rallies demanding a snap election, during one of which he was shot and wounded.

Today’s hearing

As the hearing was underway, Justice Saleem said that he does not “find any issue” in the situation, but noted that neither of the parties involved in the case has read the law.

“All of these issues have arisen because the law was not read,” he said, adding that today, “all of us will read the law together”. He said that both sides have “jammed the system”.

Justice Saleem reprimanded the PTI counsel and said that the issue is of Khan’s warrants and the party keeps knocking on the doors of both IHC and LHC. “You are unaware of where you have to plead. We just have to follow the law in this case.”

As Fawad entered the courtroom, the judge told him that his party was not following the law. “You [people] have pushed the nation into suffering.”

At this, the PTI leader told the court that when the party chief has to appear before four courts subsequently, it becomes hard for him. “We are 100% sure about an attack on Imran Khan and that is why we had requested his presence at hearings via video link.”

The judge then said that there is a proper procedure for seeking security for a person and stressed that the party should bring “itself inside the system’s ambit”.

The judge then slammed the party for not planning its public gathering ahead of time and said that if they wanted to hold a jalsa, then the preparations should have begun 15 days prior.

“For God’s sake, let the people live their routine lives. Your rally will not take place this Sunday. Even if a person gets married, they plan ahead,” he said.

The judge then asked the party leader to sit down with authorities and sort out the issue. “We are being embarrassed as a nation,” the judge remarked, asking the PTI to once again reschedule its rally.

Punjab Advocate General Shan Gul then told the judge that IHC’s order has also been issued. The advocate general said that there is no need for this hearing.

At this, Justice Saleem said that he has not touched the arrest warrants. “Neither the Lahore High Court nor the Islamabad High Court stopped from executing the arrest warrants.”

The court then adjourned the hearing till 11am tomorrow.

Latest News

Salim Haider’s inauguration as Punjab governor will be attended by Bilawal.

Published

20 hours ago

Farwa

Punjab governor Sardar Salim Haider Khan, the leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), will take the oath of office today (Tuesday).

The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Governor’s House, according to sources. Chief Justice Sardar Salim Haider of the Lahore High Court (LHC) will administer the oath.

The leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Punjab cabinet members, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and PPP leaders will be present at the oath-taking event.

The ceremony to take the oath of office was originally slated for Sunday, May 5, but it was postponed for two days due to the absence of the current governor, Balighur Rehman. The PPP leaders had been asked by the PML-N to reschedule the event by two days.

Latest News

Everything is prepared for Nawaz to lead the PML-N once more.

Published

20 hours ago

Farwa

After finalizing the necessary arrangements, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif is ready to assume leadership of the party.

Monday in the party’s Model Town secretariat, the former three-time prime minister presided over a high-level meeting.

The general council meeting of the PML-N, which is set for May 11, was thoroughly briefed by secretary general Ahsan Iqbal.

Along with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, prominent members of the PML-N, including Rana Sanaullah and Khawaja Saad Rafique, and Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, were also present at the meeting.

Sources state that Kh Saad Rafique, the party’s veteran, will be named secretary general and Nawaz Sharif will be re-elected as PML-N president during the general council meeting.

To elect Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, a resolution would be put forth during the meeting.

The older Sharif was asked to lead the party once more in a unanimous resolution that the PML-N chapter in Punjab passed a few days prior.

The contentious judiciary judgment that forced Mian Nawaz Sharif to resign as PML-N president. He has been acquitted and the barriers of repression have been removed. Following the resolution’s passing, PML-N Punjab president Rana Sanaullah declared, “The PML-N will advance under his leadership.

It has been stated that Nawaz Sharif was asked to take over as PML-N leader once again.

The former prime minister was compelled to leave the party in 2017, he continued.

Insiders claim that in an effort to stir up more energy inside the party, it was decided to divide the government and organizational offices.
Herhbaz Sharif, the current president, is too busy serving as prime minister to devote much of his attention to the party.

“After taking office again as president, Nawaz Sharif will travel to all four provinces to reorganize the party,” a top PML-N figure stated.

Nationwide, there are plans to replace provincial leaders as well.

All four provinces, including Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, will send representatives to the general council meeting, along with members of the central executive committee, senators, and MNAs.

Latest News

President Zardari lists the government’s key priority as Balochistan’s prosperity.

Published

20 hours ago

Farwa

The advancement and prosperity of the province of Balochistan and its people remained a primary priority for the current government, as President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed on Monday.

He declared his intention to play their rightful part in maintaining Pakistan’s stability and further resolved to set Balochistan on the path of wealth and advancement.

The president was speaking during a luncheon held in his honor at the invitation of Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, according to a press statement from the President Secretariat Press Wing.
Because of its extensive coastal strip and natural wealth, the president claimed that Balochistan was special.

The globe was progressing quickly, he said, emphasizing the need for new technology to be used to explore natural riches in the provinces.

In order for the province to generate enough yield, he stated that they will work to make the uncultivated areas into cultivable land using efficient irrigation systems.

In his view, the 18th Amendment, which was passed during their previous administration and was intended to protect provincial rights and advance national development, had benefited all of the provinces.

Although the province was endowed with rich supplies of gas and oil, President Zardari noted that they had not kept up with the most recent developments in this industry and that there was still time to use these natural resources to suit the nation’s economic needs.

Speaking of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), he stated that it was helping low-income and worthy families and made hints about the possibility of expanding similar programs.

In particular, he stated that he would like to strive toward the advancement and prosperity of the people of Balochistan province and the nation as a whole.

In addition, he emphasized the importance of political discourse in resolving any disputes and pledged the province government full assistance in order to facilitate chances for their development.