ISLAMABAD - Islamabad High Court Friday has directed the administration of Islamabad Capital Territory to relocate police living in 16 educational institutions of the federal capital by Tuesday, September 23.
IHC bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah said it wants to know who was creating hurdles. In case the schools were not vacated the court would initiate proceedings against all those responsible.
Justice Minallah issued these directions while hearing the writ petition filed by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) against imposition of Section 144 in the ICT. The IHC bench also directed PTI to submit affidavits that there will be no miscreants in the PTI protest and sit-in.
During the hearing, Justice Minallah observed that the present situation is giving a bad name to the country while PTI leadership apprehended before the court that the administration was not implementing court orders in letter and spirit.
At this juncture, the bench said that if there was any violation of court orders, the imposition of Section 144 would be suspended.
Former acting Commissioner Islamabad, Mujahid Sherdil appeared before the bench.
He was asked why has the administration imposed Section 144 when they have already allowed the sit-in in Islamabad to take place.
Sherdil replied he did not permit the protesting sit-in. Upon this, Justice Minallah said that the government itself claims on TV that it permitted the sit-in. He asked Sherdil if the Interior Ministry or some other institution was interfering in their work.
Sherdil said there is no pressure on him and had there been any pressure there would have been more arrests.
The bench said that people broke CCTV cameras fixed outside Supreme Court building and someone has to take the blame. Court was informed that 16 out of 63 schools could not open so far.
Justice Minallah said that the judiciary would not tolerate the violation of people’s rights. District magistrate and PTI MNA Asad Umar should jointly form a strategy to control the mess and any violation of the court’s order may be brought to the knowledge of the court.
Meanwhile in another matter, court directed PTI leader Azam Khan Swati to provide the list of the persons police have illegally detained.
Azam Swati through a habeas corpus petition had contended before the court that police have been detaining PTI workers in their illegal custody.