ISLAMABAD - The institution branch of Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stopped receiving the petitions being moved under article 199, which is related to the fundamental rights of the citizens, after the government invoked article 245 in the federal capital.
In this regard, the institution branch Monday returned petitions filed by the Aitzaz Ahsan Law Firm’s senior lawyer Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Rana Abid Nazir and several others lawyers. The branch did not receive the writ petition of Barrister Gohar Ali Khan that was from Air Traffic Controllers Guild against Civil Aviation Authority for non-provision of the latest air traffic control equipment, training and skill that could cause Pakistan a huge loss in terms of air traffic using Pakistan’s air space.
In another related development, the federal government has prepared its reply in response to the petition filed by District Bar Association (DBA) of Islamabad challenging the imposition of article 245 in the federal capital. The federal government would submit this reply on Tuesday (today) and the Chief Justice IHC Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi would hear this matter on August 06.
The sources privy to the developments said that the federal government has decided to defend the imposition of article 245 and would submit before the court that the imposition of article 245 is not mini-martial law and is in line with constitution of Pakistan and as per Constitution the Supreme Court of Pakistan can also call in the army under article 190 of the constitution.
The government’s reply maintained that the imposition of article 245 in the federal capital has no comparison with the imposition of 1977 martial law. An additional attorney general would submit this reply before the IHC on Tuesday (today).