The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a verbal request to take suo motu notice regarding the deaths that occurred during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad.
During a hearing, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s additional advocate general (AAG) urged the constitutional bench to address the issue, stating, “There were deaths on both sides yesterday, and the constitutional bench should take suo motu notice.” According to government officials, at least three Rangers and two police personnel were martyred in the protest, while PTI claims that eight of its members lost their lives.
The AAG made this request while appearing via video link in a case related to the climate change authority. In response, Justice Musarrat Hilali cautioned against making political statements during court proceedings. Justice Aminuddin Khan, leading the constitutional bench, noted that the court cannot intervene in matters not formally presented before it, while Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail added that the bench would refrain from commenting on issues outside its jurisdiction. The constitutional bench subsequently rejected the plea.
Earlier on Wednesday, PTI announced the suspensio of its protest following a midnight crackdown by law enforcement that led to the dispersal of PTI supporters. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticized PTI, stating that their protest had ended in failure. He remarked that the protest was “not the final call, but merely a missed call,” citing the chaos he witnessed while traveling from D-Chowk to Eleventh Avenue.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in a late-night press conference, condemned the PTI’s actions, saying they resorted to threats and caused extensive damage. He also questioned how many more such incidents the country would have to endure.
