ISLAMABAD: Islamabad administration issued on Friday a final warning to the protesters occupying the Faizabad intersection to clear the roads or face “strict action.”
“You have been repeatedly intimated about the illegality of your protest/sit-in,” said a notification from the district magistrate addressing Tehreek-e-Labaik Yah Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLYRAP) leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi.
About 2,000 protesters belonging to the little known religious party continues to block the crucial intersection for over two weeks.
Earlier in the day, the Islamabad High Court issued a contempt notice to Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal over the federal government’s apparent failure to end the protest.
“The act of illegal protest and blocking of major public roads, has caused gross inconvenience to the citizens of twin cities and has become a matter of public nuisance,” the communique added.
IHC issues contempt notice to Ahsan Iqbal
“You are once again strictly directed to immediately call-off your sit-in and clear the roads at Faizabad intersection by 12am tonight.”
Non-compliance of the order, it maintained, will lead to contempt of court and [the] competent authority will be compelled to initiate strict legal action against the illegal protest to fulfill the requirements of law and writ of the state.
It further said that any public event requires prior coordination and permission for necessary security arrangements and relaxation of Section 144 Cr.P.C.
On Thursday, the top court flayed the government for failing to end the protest and told intelligence agencies to submit a fresh report on the situation in the capital. While praising the government’s efforts to avoid loss of life, it suggested that use of non-lethal force could be employed to clear the protest.
The court also sought a complete report from the intelligence agencies on the situation in the capital.
