Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq on Wednesday criticized both the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government for infringing on citizens’ rights during the November 24 protest.
While hearing a contempt petition filed by traders, Justice Farooq remarked, “Both PTI and the government were at fault,” as he questioned their actions. He condemned the government for shutting down Islamabad, stating, “You were responsible for maintaining peace, but instead, you locked down the entire city.”
The protest, led by PTI’s founder, prompted the government to deploy a heavy police presence and block several roads in and around Islamabad with shipping containers to prevent protesters from entering the capital. Despite these measures, PTI supporters managed to reach D-Chowk in the Red Zone, home to sensitive government buildings, including the parliament. The standoff ended with PTI abruptly retreating after a late-night government crackdown.
PTI has since alleged that several of its workers were killed and around 1,000 were arrested. The government, however, denies using live ammunition against the protesters.
Justice Farooq highlighted the court’s November 21 order, which had directed authorities to protect the fundamental rights of citizens, traders, and protesters. Criticizing PTI, he questioned their non-compliance with court directives, asking, “What fault was it of the traders and citizens? Why were their businesses forced to close?”
Sharing his own experience, the IHC chief justice noted that the city’s lockdown disrupted even the judiciary. “The lockdown was so severe that even judges, including myself, couldn’t enter the city. I became a victim of my own order,” he remarked.
The court has now directed the Ministry of Interior to submit a detailed report on the events and adjourned the hearing to next week. The traders’ petition highlights the economic losses caused by the prolonged roadblocks and demands accountability from both PTI and the government.
