LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Monday constituted a three-member full bench to hear a petition against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) protest in Islamabad.
The bench comprises Justice Shahid Hamid Dar, Justice Muhammad Anwaarul Haq and Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan. It will hold a preliminary hearing of the petition from Wednesday (October 26).
Senior lawyer AK Dogar had moved the petition on behalf of Lawyers’ Foundation for Justice. The petitioner states that PTI chief Imran Khan has been constantly seeking to overthrow the elected federal government with the help of the “third umpire”.
“If the federal capital is shut-down, the Supreme Court, the Parliament, the Cabinet Secretariat and all offices of the government will become dysfunctional. The fundamental right of speech and expression granted under Article 19 of the Constitution is not an absolute right, but subject to security, integrity, defence of the country, public order and morality,” the petition states.
“Imran Khan is inciting the people to rebel by making announcements for locking down Islamabad. The country is already facing a serious law and order situation. The announcements made by Imran Khan for shutting down Islamabad are having an adverse impact on national economy and the performance of the stock exchange,” he said.
He requested the LHC to issue directions to restrain the PTI chief from shutting down the federal capital.
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