ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Monday dismissed the contempt of court petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf against the revocation of official permission from relevant authorities for a party rally in Islamabad.
Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court heard the plea seeking contempt of court proceedings against the deputy commissioner of Islamabad.
During the proceedings, PTI lawyer Shoaib Shaheen told the court that the district administration had submitted a notification to the Islamabad High Court on July 4 regarding the suspension of the NOC (no-objection certificate) for the PTI rally.
The lawyer added that the deputy commissioner had sent him a notification around 1:30 am suspending the PTI rally, just hours before it was scheduled to take place.
The counsel argued that it was the 1st of Muharram on Monday, and their party rally had been planned two days earlier. He added that the notification from the chief commissioner falsely claimed to have invited the PTI for a meeting as there was no such invitation extended to the party.
Justice Sattar remarked that if the deputy commissioner had cancelled the permission for the PTI rally, the PTI should have challenged that decision.
The lawyer argued that those involved in the matter should be punished. The judge observed that if the PTI wished to challenge the decision, it should opt for the legal path.
He remarked that the court could not initiate contempt of court proceedings based on the current plea. He also suggested Shaheen to act within his capacity as a lawyer.
The judge observed that during the last hearing, the Islamabad DC had initially given permission for the rally, but this decision had been suspended by the chief commissioner. After hearing the arguments the court dismissed the PTI’s contempt petition.
