ISLAMABAD : In a dissenting note , Justice Yahya Afridi, noted in the judgment in Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) long march of May 25, 2022 that the Supreme Court of Pakistan. (SCP) has sufficent material to start proceedings against former prime minister , Imran Khan, for directing his party workers to reach to D-Chowk in blue area which was sheer violation of the court order . Justice Yahya Afridi further noted in his dissenting note that former prime minister’s speeches and tweets were on the record that he ignored SCP judgment in long march case and incited the participants of his long march to reach to D-Chowk on May 25, 2022. Justice Yahya Afridi further noted in his dissenting note that in his opinion , Imran Khan , committed contempt of the court and it was necessary to start proceeding against him for contempt of court. His other 4 brother judges including chief justice of Pakistan , Justice Omar Atta Bandial , showed some flexibility and sought report from concerned government departs including the Islamabad police , Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) on the last PTI long march.
PTI had marched on Islamabad on May 25, 2022 to PPP press the coition government led by Shahbaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz !(PMLN) to dissolve assemblies and call new elections in the country.
Prior to the long march , Babar Awan , lawyer for PTI had assured to the apex court that PTI long march of May 25, 2022 would be peaceful . On Babar Awan assurances , SCP ordered to the government to remove all baricades to facilitate the participants of the march to have peaceful protest in Islamabad . The apex court had also directed to the government to allocate space in H-9 for peaceful long march. Despite clear decision of the apex court, long march not only reached at D-Chowk but it also became unruly. Some participants of the march torched green trees in the blue area and damaged a metro station near to D-Chowk. The violence invited fierce reaction from the police and other law enforcing agencies (LEAs) which turned D-Chowk into a battle ground between LEAs and marchers . This ugly situation continued for around 12 hours that left two dozen LEAs personnel and marchers I injured .
Justice Yahya Afridi reminded all events that occured at D-Chowk and made them a part of the case to persuade his other brother judges who are on the bench to start contempt proceedings against Imran Khan. He also made a number of tweets a part of his dissenting note to stress for starting proceeds in contempt case against PTI chief .
Other 4 judges of the bench have sought report from LEAs on the long march and ordered them to submit reply in 7 days.
The bench of the apex court have raised seven questions in the case and sought report on each of them. These questions included 1) if PTI workers marched on to D-Chowk against the court orders?, 2) Who monitored movement of the march in Islamabad ? 3) Did PTI chief direct his workers in sheer violation of its lawyer’s assurance ? 4) Which official authority handled LEAs during PTI march on Islamabad ? 5) Did the participants go to the specified place granted for march ? 6) Did the crowed cross security barriers and what measures were taken by the government to stop march from entering into red zone area of Islamabad. The concerned departments have been ordered by the apex court to give reply with all footage and other reliable evidence.
The court can reach to final judgment in the case on the basis of the reports to be submitted by LEAs agencies . There is very much possible that the footage and other evidences may lead the bench to a decision that may create more problems for PTI in days and weeks to come.