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- July 26, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
Section 144 was imposed in Islamabad on Friday, forcing the PTI to postpone its planned protest. Meanwhile, the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) went ahead with its demonstration, claiming that some party supporters were arrested by the capital police during the event. A day earlier, the district administration had declared in a statement that Section 144 was already in place in Islamabad. This legal provision allows district administrations to forbid assemblies of four or more people in a given area for a limited amount of time.
The Islamabad administration issued a warning that residents were not permitted to hold any sort of protest or rally in the federal capital, adding that violators would face harsh consequences. Similarly, from July 26 to 29, Punjab also enforced Section 144.
The limits were implemented as the nation’s capital prepared for yet another political confrontation, with JI announcing a sit-in at D-Chowk and the opposition coalition lead by the PTI, TTAP, calling for widespread demonstrations. While TTAP denounced perceived political victimization and called for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, JI focused its rally on price increases, excessive electricity bills, and rising income taxes.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC), which ordered the capital administration to permit it on July 29, received a protest request from the PTI in reaction to the implementation of Section 144. PTI Islamabad President Amir Masood Mughal then said via a video message on the X platform that the demonstration had been canceled and rescheduled for Monday following the court hearing.
“On July 23, we spoke with the Islamabad deputy commissioner about our protest, but no decision was made. We filed an appeal with the [Islamabad] high court on July 24, and the honorable judge recommended that [the local administration] let our protest on Monday, according to Mughal. “We are delaying today’s protest in light of the [court’s decision].”
On social media, the party, however, posted images from small-scale demonstrations that were taking place in several towns around the nation. Shangla, Muzaffargarh, Lodhran, Moro, and Mirpur Mathelo were among the cities. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spoke to a public assembly in Bannu concurrently.
The PTI’s plea for permission to stage a demonstration today was considered by IHC’s Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, who separately urged the capital administration to permit the party to hold a protest on July 29. The state attorney brought up the tight security situation by telling the court that the administration of the federal capital had turned down requests for demonstrations from any political party.
Judge Saman asked if the PTI demonstration was permitted and recommended that it be permitted on Monday. She asked if Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had received approval from the district administration to hold their protest.AG Shaukat said that they were unable to give permission to PTI due to the implementation of Section 144 in Islamabad and that permission had not been given to JI either. He continued by saying that the city was essentially shut down because of the JI demonstration.
Judge Saman also questioned why permission was not granted to the PTI and what connection there was between the JI sit-in and the PTI protest. AG Shaukat said that Section 144 has been enforced throughout Islamabad when she pointed out that the F-9 region is exempt from its application.
Judge Suman said, “You could just as well say that you will never permit PTI to demonstrate.” AG Shaukat reaffirmed that authorization had not been given, citing earlier examples such the TLP sitting at Ashura. AG acknowledged the uncertainty by saying, “We do not know what the situation will be on Monday.” The court postponed making a ruling after hearing arguments from both parties.