اردو
  • Islamabad protestors remain put as deadline to vacate Faizabad Interchange passes

    Religious group protestors blocked  Faizabad Interchange. Religious group protestors blocked Faizabad Interchange.

    The protestors, staging a sit-in at Faizabad Interchange, remained put as the deadline to vacate the vital junction passed on Friday night.

    Law-enforcers, equipped in riot gear, were present near the site of the sit-in but had not taken any action as the hour given by the district administration to disperse passed.

    Earlier today, the Islamabad High Court had (IHC) taken notice of the non-implementation of its earlier orders directing the dislodging of the protest sit-in at Faizabad Interchange.

    Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had directed the authorities to vacate the key route from the protesters by 10am Saturday (Today).

    During the court proceedings, Justice Siddiqui had remarked that the protesters have not taken the court orders seriously, adding that the district administration has failed to use its powers.

    "Freedom of expression does not mean that the rights of other citizens are usurped," he added.

    Having summoned officials of the capital administration, Justice Siddiqui ordered the police to take the assistance of Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Rangers if needed and clear the site through peaceful or non-peaceful means.

    The court wanted action to be taken on Friday but the deputy commissioner had asked for time to make preparations. He had also added that the protesters were carrying weapons.

    Justice Siddiqui maintained that the administration failed to play its due role in resolving the crisis and merely watched the spectacle unfold as a ‘cricket spectator’.

    He had also said that in the name of freedom of assembly, one cannot usurp the rights of an entire city.

    Following Friday's court order, the district administration had called a meeting in which it was decided to give the protesters a 'last chance'.

    It was decided that the protesters will be given until 10pm Friday night to disperse on their own.

    Meanwhile, earlier, a district magistrate, in a letter to the organisers of the protest, had stated that the administration will now be compelled to use strict action as the continuance of the sit-in will be considered contempt of court.

    In a written order issued later, the judge asked the government why it failed to control the situation and allow the protesters to occupy Faizabad Interchange instead of directing them to the designated venue for protests — Parade Ground.

    The Islamabad police chief and chief commissioner, as well as an interior ministry official, were summoned in person at the next hearing.