The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Thursday disposed of the federal government’s contempt of court plea against PTI Chairman Imran Khan over his violation of the apex court’s orders during PTI’s ‘Azadi March’.
The federal government had earlier filed a petition in the Supreme Court for registering a contempt of court case against PTI Chairman, Imran Khan.
Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf Ali moved the plea. The five-member bench – headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial – will hear the plea later today.
Supreme Court dismisses contempt of court petition against Imran Khan.
— Amnah Jabeen (@AmnahJPlus) May 26, 2022
According to details, the government has pleaded in the petition that despite the court’s orders, Imran Khan directed his party workers to reach D-Chowk in Islamabad. Moreover, amid violation of court orders, state property was also damaged during the Islamabad long march.
Read more: IHC orders police to free arrested PTI workers
“Contempt of court proceedings should be launched against Imran Khan for disobeying top court orders,” the plea stated. The government has pleaded with the court to take action against Imran Khan.
.@GovtofPakistan appears to have made a big blunder by filing a contempt petition against @ImranKhanPTI and @PTIofficial. This will backfire. The order appears to have been clearly violated by both sides but here the contempt can be problematic.
— Muhammad Ahmad Pansota (@Pansota1) May 26, 2022
To clarify, the SC on Wednesday allowed the PTI to hold its Azadi March rally in the H-9 area. The SC also restrained the government from arresting its leaders and workers in connection with the march. Furthermore, it ordered that the automobiles confiscated within the last 48 hours be returned to their owners.
The SC bench, in its order, said it hoped that the top PTI leadership would also tell the party supporters to not take the law into their own hands. As for the government, the bench had directed the government to provide security to the PTI’s gathering.
SC orders violated
However, it appears that the SC orders were violated. Imran Khan’s long march continued to move towards D-Chowk despite SC directives for the H-9 area. Imran Khan had insisted that his supporters converge in D-Chowk.
Read more: Won’t allow PTI march to enter Islamabad: Rana Sanaullah
According to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Imran Khan broke his promise to the Supreme Court by holding the rally at D-Chowk, instead of the SC designated venue. Moreover, he said, against the SC orders, the mob continued to create chaos in Islamabad.
سپریم کورٹ کے فیصلے کی آڑ میں فسادی جتھہ ساری رات جلاؤ کرتا رہا
ساری رات عمران نیازی کنٹینر سے سپریم کورٹ کے فیصلے کی دھجیاں اُڑاتا رہا
ساری رات عمران صاحب کنٹیر سے توہینِ عدالت کے اعلان کرتے رہے
پولیس نے ایک بھی ربڑ بلٹ نہیں چلائی تمام جھوٹا پراپوگینڈا ہے
— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 26, 2022