SC directs govt to provide H-9 Ground in Islamabad for PTI’s meeting

Supreme Court has given direction to the coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Islamabad administration to provide the ground of sector H-9 in Islamabad for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) meeting.

The court in its order said the government to provide the same ground to the PTI that was given to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) during its long march some time ago.

On this, the Attorney General told the Supreme Court that the said the H-9 Ground has only a space of accommodating only 10,000 to 15,000 people only.

The court also advised the government and the Islamabad administration to avoid making any disturbance in the flow of traffic on the Srinagar Highway. 

The court also stopped the government to make raids at the houses of PTI workers and leaders. The court has also given orders to release all the arrested lawyers of the PTI.

During the hearing of the PTI’s Case against road closures and raids to stop the long march in the Supreme Court, the Attorney General presented the names of the members of the Government Negotiation Committee including Yousuf Raza Gilani, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal and Azam Tarar.

He told the court that Faisal Sabzwari, Agha Jan, Asad Mahmood and Khalid Magsi are also part of the negotiating committee. The coalition ministers have also been added to the committee, he informed SC.

In the hearing, the SC ordered to hold the meeting of the government and PTI negotiating committee at the office of the Islamabad Commissioner at 10 pm. On this, the Chief Commissioner Islamabad assured the SC of the implementation of the court order.

The Supreme Court has rejected the plea of the PTI for immediate removal of roadblocks and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said they cannot give all orders today because the case is not over yet. He said they will hear the case again tomorrow.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori