ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday sought a comprehensive report over failure of the district administration and law enforcement agencies' operation to evacuate the Faizabad Interchange from the protestors of Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasoolalah (TLYR).
Hearing a case against the TLYR sit-in filed by a citizen, IHC's Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui expressed displeasure over failure of the operation against the protesters, who had disconnected the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi for the last 21 days and asked the interior minister as to why the police were disrespected.
He also asked whether the protesters, who had used derogatory language against the judges, apologised. Chief Commissioner Islamabad Zulifqar Haider and deputy attorney general appeared before the court.
As the hearing began, the chief commissioner informed the court that a six-point agreement had been signed between the government and the TLYR, and the Faizabad Interchange would be opened for traffic soon. He also read out the agreement.
Justice Siddiqui observed that the court had ordered to evacuate the Faizabad Interchange from the protesters, and not to sign an agreement with them.
He expressed displeasure over the mediator's role played by a state institution in reaching an agreement with the protesters, and said the institution should operate within its constitutional limits. If any one likes to do politics, he should resign from his job to do so, he remarked. Can a representative of a state institution play a role of a mediator in accordance with the law, he asked.
Justice Shaukat Siddiqui said he had issued orders to end the sit-in in accordance with the law and he stood by his decision in that regard.
Later Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal appeared before the court and hoped that the matter would be resolved soon.
Justice Siddiqui asked the minister what kind of agreement the government had signed with the protesters. "You have apologized to the protesters and their all demands have been accepted," he said adding that as to why the state should bear the losses occurred due to the protesters.
He remarked that police and administration had failed under a conspiracy.
Ahsan Iqbal contended that a civil war like situation could have emerged in the country due to the sit-in, and said that they took the decision in the national interest. He said his ministry neither disrespected the police nor the administration.
The court directed to form a new inquiry committee for fixing responsibility about amendment in the election laws related to the Khatm e Nabuwat and sought a report from the interior ministry on the failure of the operation.
The court adjourned hearing of the case till next Monday.
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