ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday directed the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration to submit,till September 2, no-objection-certificates (NOCs) issued to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) for holding sit-ins at the Constitution Avenue.

A single bench of Justice Athar Minnallah heared the petition filed by Mohammad Ajmal Baloch, president All Paksitan Anjuman-e-Tajran against PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and PTI chief Imran Khan for allegedly violating fundamental rights of the public in general and the traders at large.

Justice Athar remarked that after examining the NOC, the court could ascertain liability for violation of fundamental rights of other citizens and loss to economy due to the sit-ins.

He observed that due to the sit-ins, schools, offices, roads and businesses had been paralyzed.

The sit-ins were also affecting the environment causing serious health hazards for the citizens, he added.

Justice Athar said though holding protest was a constitutional right, but it should not be at the cost of the routine life of the citizens and traders.

During the course of proceedings, Akraam Chuadhry, counsel for the petitioner, pleaded that the Constitution did not allow the protestors to disturb the life of citizens and affect their right to freedom of movement.

Justice Athar questioned that during parliamentary proceedings,how could the parliamentarians be debarred to attend the session. Such an act could not be seen in civilized societies like the United Kingdom,he added.

State institutions like the Parliament House, Supreme Court etc located on the Constitution Avenue were facing problems, he observed.

He asked the government to take effective measurements for future,like allocating specific place for such protests.

Seeking para-wise comments from the Ministry of Interior on the proposals and questions raised by it, the court appointed senior lawyers Babar Sattar and Saad Rassol amicus curiae.

Source :APP