The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed Rawalpindi Police not to arrest workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) besides removing all the barricades erected in the city. While hearing two petitions against the imposition of section 144 and road blocks, Justice Atir Mahmood of LHC's Rawalpindi bench directed CPO Israr Ahmed Abbasi and District Co-ordination Officer Talat Mahmood Gondal not to arrest PTI workers and remove the blockades.
The court adjourned the hearing for Wednesday after Additional Advocate General (AAG) Rashid Hafeez argued that an identical issue was pending before full bench of LHC in Lahore and propriety demanded that Justice Atir needed to wait for decision of full bench.
Responding to a court query on arrest of PTI workers and road blocks, the AAG maintained that under Police Order 2002, the law enforcers could block roads to maintain law and order. He said DCO imposed section 144 to maintain peace in the city and PTI workers were arrested for violating ban on pubic gatherings, adding the arrested workers had to obtain bail from relevant courts of law.
Sheikh Athar Jamil, a resident of Khyaban-e-Sir Syed, had filed a petition challenging the police actions against protestors that created problems for Rawalpindi citizens. The second petition was filed by Advocate Umair Tanveer Butt, a PTI activist, asking the court to stop the police from blocking roads, arresting PTI workers, and harassing them.
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