The federal government of Pakistan has approached the country's Supreme Court with a request for an early hearing of its contempt petition against the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The PTI stands accused of reneging on assurances it made that it would not head to Islamabad’s D-Chowk during the Azadi march on May 25 last year.
In the two-page application, the government reminded the Supreme Court that when it took up the case on December 2, it issued a directive for the case to be fixed in the following week. However, no hearing has taken place since then. The government is now requesting that the apex court hears the case on April 26.555
The contempt petition was filed against the PTI after it allegedly "disregarded" the Supreme Court's May 25 order, which was made on a petition filed by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association. The order stated that the marchers should not proceed to D-Chowk and sought a directive that no hindrance should be caused in the free movement of citizens in any part of the country.
Despite the Islamabad High Court's directive to the capital's administration to allow the PTI to hold a gathering at the ground located between Sectors H-9 and G-9, the party leadership did not comply with the court's order. Instead, PTI chief Imran Khan exhorted his supporters to converge on D-Chowk, which the government alleges was pre-planned.
The petition argues that when police confronted the PTI supporters, they began destroying public and private properties, setting ablaze police vehicles, trees, and bushes. A number of people were injured during skirmishes between PTI supporters and the law enforcement agencies.
The government is now seeking an early hearing of the contempt petition against the PTI leadership. The petition also includes a request for a directive that the PTI should not be allowed to hold any future public gatherings or rallies without prior approval from the relevant authorities.
The move by the government is the latest in a long-running dispute between the PTI and the federal government. The PTI has been vocal in its criticism of the government, particularly in relation to allegations of corruption and poor governance. The government, in turn, has accused the PTI of being disruptive and of failing to comply with court orders.
The situation is further complicated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which has seen restrictions placed on public gatherings and rallies. Both the government and the PTI have been criticized for holding large rallies during the pandemic, which health experts say could contribute to the spread of the virus.
The contempt petition against the PTI is just one of many legal battles being fought between political parties in Pakistan. The country's judiciary has played a central role in many of these disputes, with political parties using the courts to try to gain an advantage over their rivals.
The Supreme Court's decision on whether to grant an early hearing of the contempt petition against the PTI leadership is likely to be closely watched by both sides. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the country's political landscape, particularly in the lead-up to the next general election.
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