Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Taking notice of the Islamabad sit-in, which has kept the federal capital paralysed for the past 16 days, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the government to submit a detailed report on the steps taken so far for ensuring the freedom of movement until tomorrow (Thursday).

During the hearing of a case, a two-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa took notice of the matter when some lawyers informed it about the hurdles being faced by them due to the ongoing sit-in by the religious parties in Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange.

The court then issued notices to the interior and defence secretaries, inspectors general of Islamabad and Punjab Police, advocates general in Islamabad and Punjab and the attorney general to submit a detailed report on the measures taken so far by the government to safeguard the basic rights of the public, which were being affected by the sit-in.

“Which Shariah (Islamic law) permits obstruction of people’s routes and use of foul language”, Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked, adding that Article 15 of the constitution guarantees freedom of movement to the public at large.

The protest by religious parties that has brought the capital to a standstill entered its 16th day on Tuesday after various rounds of talks between the government and protesters ended in a stalemate.

It may be recalled here that the Islamabad High Court on Monday issued show cause notices for contempt of court proceedings to the Islamabad district administration’s senior officials for failing to end the Faizabad sit-in despite the court’s orders, besides directing the government to positively end the Faizabad sit-in by Thursday.

Due to the sit-in protest of religious parties, including the Tehreek-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) and the Sunni Tehreek (ST) – who are calling for the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and strict action against those behind the amendment to the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017 – daily life in the federal capital has been paralysed.

The protesters have been occupying the Faizabad Bridge that connects Rawalpindi and Islamabad through the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road, both of which are the busiest roads in the twin cities, making the lives of the citizens miserable. Government efforts are underway to end the sit-in in a peaceful manner.

Published in Daily Times, November 22^nd 2017.