PTI negotiators cancelled talks slated for Wednesday night at the Islamabad chief commissioner’s office, against the Supreme Court’s directions, in order to guarantee that the party’s protest remained calm.
Federal ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar and Ayaz Sadiq stated the PTI had ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling. As a result, they voiced concerns over the Supreme Court’s decision to make the government obligated to allow the PTI to enter the federal capital, and then not taking any action against the party for “disobeying” the court.
A judge instructed us to clear the streets of PTI supporters so that they may take part in the long march, but the court is currently closed, according to Law Minister Tarar. Mr Sadiq argued that the Supreme Court must act immediately to punish this act of contempt. Leaders of the JUI-F and the BAP, including Khalid Magsi, have pushed the PTI to engage in negotiations.
In contrast, PTI leader Babar Awan said that he arrived at the chief commissioner’s office at precisely 10 p.m and found no one from the opposite side. Once the other squad showed up, it was too late for him to stay and wait.
According to Imran, an agreement has been struck to end the sit-in
PTI officials were angry, according to sources in the capital administration, at the detention of two of its leaders who were scheduled to be on the negotiating team.
Set up committees
An earlier Supreme Court decision mandated that both parties form their own negotiation teams, meet at 10 pm on Wednesday, and work out the details of the PTI’s lengthy march peacefully. In Islamabad’s chief commissioner’s office, the committees were scheduled to convene. Court president Muhammad Shoaib Shaheen had petitioned the three-judge bench of Justices Ijazul Ahsan, Munib Akhtar and Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi to rule on the case.
Arrested PTI members and sympathisers who were not involved in or suspected of a horrific crime were also ordered to be released by the authorities. Until such notice, the government cannot conduct nighttime raids on private homes, offices, or other properties to round up PTI employees.
On Thursday, the court will revisit the subject.
Babar Awan, Aamir Kiani, Faisal Fareed Chaudhry, and Ali Awan were on the PTI’s negotiation team. Similarly, former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, Ayaz Sadiq, Faisal Sabzwari, Asad Mahmood, Azam Nazir Tarar, Agha Jan and Khalid Magsi represented the government side.
In spite of the PTI’s appeal, the court did not issue any orders to remove the obstacles and barriers that had been put up.
The court also instructed Babar Awan and Faisal Fareed to secure an assurance from the party’s leadership that its members will stay peaceful. The court directed the chief commissioner to enable Mr Awan’s request to stage their demonstration on the ground between sectors H-9 and G-9.
Anti-government protestors with guns in the streets
In addition, the Islamabad High Court requested the district administration to evaluate the cases of PTI workers jailed and ordered the release of those who were not implicated in any crime. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah began hearings on a case filed by PTI workers and leaders alleging harassment.
National Counter Terrorism Authority issued an alert against an untoward occurrence, and there were rumours that demonstrators were armed, according to the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner.
PTI’s Lahore staffers’ trucks were allegedly found with firearms in them, according to Punjab’s government. The PTI, however, denies these charges.
70 workers were detained under MPO on suspicions that they were planning to harm government property and cars, he stated in court. It was postponed until Thursday for a new hearing in the case (today).
To that end, the PTI leader Imran Khan tweeted: “Rumours & purposeful misinformation claiming a deal has been done. I’m not buying it. Not at all! We’re on our way to Islamabad, and there’s no need for an agreement at this point. Islamabad will be our base of operations for as long as it takes to announce the dates for the dissolution of the assembly and elections. Inviting all residents of Islamabad and Pindi to take part.”
PML-N isn’t phased
In contrast, the PTI’s long march was met with a ‘poor reception by the public, according to the leaders of the PML-N. This party did its best all day on Wednesday to show that Punjab and KP residents had rejected Imran Khan’s call to show.
All the leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) held a press conference in Lahore, while federal ministers Rana Sanaullah and Marriyum Aurangzeb spoke separately, but they all echoed the same sentiment: People had placed their trust in the Sharifs by not joining Imran’s protest.
Hamza Shehbaz, the beleaguered Punjab Chief Minister, tweeted his two cents, asking Mr Khan to explain where the two million people he had said would join the PTI’s lengthy march were located.
In light of the government’s apparent confidence in the march’s failure, the PTI questioned why Punjab had been shut down and PTI officials and supporters detained during the last three days. Fawad Chaudhry stated that the government ordered “police violence” against his party’s members and leaders in every section of Punjab.
“The Punjab police have been snatching up our employees from their homes for the last three days… Despite this, he insisted, “a large crowd will reach Islamabad.”
“I appreciate the people of Punjab and KP for rejecting Imran,” Maryam Nawaz stated at a news conference.
“He bears responsibility for the deaths and injuries caused by the demonstration.”
In her view, the establishment was accountable for Imran becoming the prime minister and for his subsequent anti-establishment rhetoric.
“Because the economy is on a ventilator,” she responded when asked why she had changed her mind regarding early elections. It’s now time for the coalition administration to end its term.
