ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial warned the political establishment on Thursday that there would be repercussions if they disobeyed the law and the constitution.
While presiding over the five-member bench hearing the government’s contempt petition against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, CJP Bandial declared, “Ours is not a political job.” The court also includes Justices Ijaz ul Ahsan, Munib Akhtar, Yahya Afridi, and Sayyed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi.
In order to support the party’s planned long march to Islamabad, the government is requesting orders prohibiting Khan from inciting lawlessness through the petition.
Political battles should be fought on the streets rather than in court, the CJP remarked, advising the Pakistani Attorney General to examine the security agencies’ reports.
The CJP added as he postponed the hearing until Wednesday, October 26, 2022, “You want to prevent a fight on the streets, and so do we,” adding, “If something comes up in the meantime, we will take necessary measures.”
On October 13, the Interior Ministry filed a petition asking for the initiation of contempt proceedings under Article 204 of the Constitution against Imran Khan for defying and disregarding the rulings of the supreme court rendered on May 25, 2022, in response to a petition filed by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association.
It requested for the issuance of the proper decrees necessary for the execution of the Supreme Court’s ruling from May 26 and the defense of the public’s fundamental rights, notably those of the citizens of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
In order to safeguard citizens’ fundamental rights to personal safety and freedom of movement, which are guaranteed by the Constitution, the ministry also requested that the top court issue detailed guidelines for all future protests in the federal capital, including advance notification of the date, venue selection, guarantees that protests won’t disrupt daily life, and a commitment to make sure that protesters don’t damage any public or private property.