Over vandalism in judicial complex during PTI chief’s appearance at FJC
Zubair Qureshi
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday sought a report from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad and the Chief Commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) on the incidents of riots, arson, and vandalism perpetrated by political workers at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) last week.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the notices and sought report during the hearing of the contempt petition, filed by Assistant Commissioner Shalimar, against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan following the “destruction caused by his party’s workers” when he reached FJC to attend the hearing of Toshakhana case. In a bid to prevent the PTI chief from appearing before the court, protestors attacked law enforcement personnel deployed outside the courts and indiscriminately damaged public property last Saturday (March 18).
Following arguments of the petitioner’s counsel Raja Rizwan Abbasi, the court combined the contempt case with that of the missing court file bearing Khan’s signature, which the Superintendent of Police lost amid rampant pandemonium at the judicial complex on that day. According to the petition, Khan violated the court orders binding him not to create a law and order situation.
“The PTI workers pelted stones on the police and judicial complex which resulted in injuries of police personnel,” the petition read. The plea read that the police had made security arrangements as per the court order adding that the former prime minister — whose government was ousted from power after a vote of no confidence last April .
