The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has asked for a comprehensive report from Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan and the district administration regarding the riots, arson, and vandalism committed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) the previous week.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the notices while hearing the contempt petition against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan that was filed by assistant commissioner Shalimar due to the “destruction caused by PTI’s workers” when he arrived at the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) to attend the hearing of the Toshakhana case.
On March 18, demonstrators assaulted law enforcement police outside the courthouses to prevent the PTI leader from appearing in court. They also vandalized government property at random.
After hearing arguments from the petitioner’s attorney, Raj Rizwan Abbasi, the court merged the contempt case with the matter involving the missing court file containing Khan’s signature. That day, Chief of Police Sami Malik had misplaced the file amidst tremendous court chaos.
According to the plea, Khan breached court orders prohibiting him from inciting a law and order scenario. PTI workers bombarded the police and court buildings with rocks, causing police officers to sustain injuries.
The former prime minister, whose administration was overturned by a vote of no confidence in April last year, was charged with contempt of court on March 17 for failing to comply with even one of the court’s instructions. The defense stated that the police had established security in compliance with the court’s directive.
The petition requested that the court summon Khan and take legal measures against him.
After mailing the warnings, the hearing was postponed until April 17.
The police have detained the PTI chairman and 17 party leaders on charges of fighting with the police and damaging property outside the courts.
In addition, the police captured 61 PTI activists who participated in the attack on the police and recovered the materials used to create petrol bombs and other homemade weapons used by the rioters against the police.
In addition to 10 complaints under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the Counter-Terrorism Department of Islamabad (CTD) filed a first information report (FIR) against Imran and 17 other individuals on suspicion of terrorism for allegedly hitting police officers and causing chaos outside the courthouse. The police report was submitted at the Ramna station.