As Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) gears up its efforts for holding 'Azadi March' in Islamabad on October 27, a petitioner challenged it in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday, seeking restriction on the opposition parties to hold sit-in as, according to him, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) wants to pressurize National Accountability Bureau (NAB) through the march.
Advocate Riaz Hanif Rahi filed the petition in the IHC wherein he made PML-N, JUI-F, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), inspector general of police (IGP), chief commissioner, deputy commissioner, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the federation of Pakistan through Ministry of Interior, secretary Ministry of Law and Justice and Capital Development Authority (CDA) as respondents.
In his petition, he argued that the PML-N president held a press conference on Saturday last, which has been viral on different TV channels and was also published in print media, and announced to participate in Emir JUI-F Maulana Fazlur Rehman's march. A letter written by the PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif to participate in 'Azadi March' has been shared with the JUI-F emir.
He further said that the NAB has proved cases against the PML-N leadership and the cases are also under-investigation against the leadership of respondent JUI-F and details can be requisitioned from respondent NAB in this regard.
'Azadi March' is actually the diversion and escape by the people who are facing criminal charges or investigations are pending against them. "No accountability would be possible if the institutions like respondent NAB are kept under pressure. The proposed 'Azadi March' of respondent JUI-F and PML-N is with mala fide intentions and for collateral purposes," he further argued.
He said that the JUI-F and PML-N want fresh elections by toppling the present government, adding they are fugitives from the system. Under the proposed lockdown, valuable fundamental rights of public including petitioner under the Articles 2-A, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18, and 19 of the Constitution would be infringed.
The petition said that this court has already passed detailed judgment in 2016 and directions were issued to the official respondents and only notified place for these types of activities with the name of "Democracy Park and Speech Corner" was introduced, and disruption of normal life of the city was disallowed. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has also issued certain directions in 2017 in this regard.
The petitioner said that it is the duty of PEMRA to have a check on electronic media, adding the electronic media should not be allowed to viral the interviews and speeches of JUI-F emir and PML-N president for public information as negative propaganda can cause national loss.
He requested the court to direct the Ministry of Interior and secretary Cabinet Division to act strictly in accordance with the law and ensure smooth free movement of public at large and apprehend everybody who so ever may be traveling beyond his limits and entering into criminal orbit.
He also requested the court to restrain chief commissioner Islamabad from granting permission on the application submitted before him on behalf of the JUI-F emir. The DC should be required to take action against the criminal acts and the proposed acts of the JUI-F and PML-N of sealing and blocking the capital city be declared as illegal and unconstitutional.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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