ISLAMABAD: As the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) gears up for its 'Azadi' march in Islamabad on August 14, a petitioner challenged it in the Islamabad High Court on Thursday.
Petitioner Abdullah Tahir argues in his application that the ‘Azadi’ march is against fundamental rights as not only would it disrupt the free movement of citizens in the federal capital, it would also endanger their security.
Therefore, the complainant argues, the court should stop the march from taking place.
PTI chairman Imran Khan has announced that his supporters will hold a sit-in in the federal capital on August 14.
The PTI says the march is to protest alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections and to press for electoral reforms. However, Imran wants Nawaz Sharif's government to resign and new elections to be held.
Also read: Govt advised to handle 'Azadi March' crisis with care
The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) led federal government is bracing for a wave of protests this month, days after it invoked Article 245 of the Constitution and gave the military responsibility for securing the capital amid the threat of militant attacks and the spectre of a political showdown.
Separately, activist and cleric Tahirul Qadri will hold a ‘Martyrs’ Day’ on Aug 10 in protest of the killings of his Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) workers in violent clashes in Lahore’s Model Town in June.
Qadri has vowed to topple and jail government ministers by the end of the month.