The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the PTI to hold its Azadi March protest near Peshawar Mor between the H-9 and G-9 area of Islamabad and restrained the government from arresting its leaders and workers in connection with the march.

The court instructed the authorities to not make "unnecessary use of force" and not raid the homes and offices of or arrest other PTI leaders and workers. It also ordered the immediate release of detained lawyers as well as those arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance 1960, adding that those involved in "heinous crimes" and nominated in FIRs would be dealt with by the high courts. Furthermore, it ordered that the automobiles confiscated within the last 48 hours be returned to their owners.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Sayyed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi, issued the orders after hearing the petition filed by Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) President Mohammad Shoaib Shaheen a day earlier, seeking the removal of blockades in the capital ahead of the PTI's march.

"While playing the role of the arbitrator, we pass the order that no raids should be conducted on the homes of PTI workers," the Supreme Court said. "The lawyers on whom there are not serious charges should also be immediately released."

The SC bench, in its order, said it hoped that the top PTI leadership would also tell the party supporters to not take the law in their hands.

The SC issued the orders after the PTI assured that its workers would not cause damage to public and private properties. While the court allowed the protest to continue on Srinagar Highway, it also said that "the flow of traffic must not be affected, the citizens must not be bothered, and the protestors should remain peaceful."

Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf opposed the court's decision to allow the PTI to hold its protest in the designated area. "[Their] request to hold the protest in G-9 area has already been rejected."

The attorney general said the "PTI workers will be [numbered] in hundreds of thousands," adding that "[the site] where the JUI-F held its rally had the capacity of only 15,000."

At this, PTI counsel Awan quipped: "I am grateful [to you] for acknowledging that the number will be in hundreds of thousands."

Meanwhile, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Amer Ali Ahmed assured the court that its orders will be followed whatever they may be.

The attorney general informed the court that an eight-member committee comprising four members each from the PTI and the government has been formed.

Awan, Faisal Chaudhry, Amir Kiyani and Ali Nawaz will be representing the PTI on the committee, whereas the government has nominated Yousuf Raza Gilani, Ahsan Iqbal, Ayaz Sadiq and Azam Nazeer Tarar.

The apex court ordered for the committee to hold a meeting at 10pm tonight as it adjourned the hearing till tomorrow (Thursday).

Attorney general told to seek instructions from PM over PTI's demands

Earlier, the Supreme Court asked Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf to seek directions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the PTI's demands regarding its Azadi March.

PTI lawyer Babar Awan appeared on the rostrum when the hearing resumed after a short break around 3pm. He told the court that the party had asked for permission to stage the march on May 23.

Awan called on the court to issue directives to the government. He demanded that the blockades placed on roads be lifted and the arrested PTI workers be released immediately. He assured the court that the party would adhere to its directives.

Justice Ahsan remarked that there was a lack of communication and trust between the government and the PTI.

Awan told the court that Imran had formed a four-member committee for talks with the administration, comprising him, Faisal Chaudhry, Amir Kiyani and Ali Awan. He asked the court to allow the PTI to stage a protest at Srinagar Highway.

"We want to protest where the JUI-F staged a sit-in twice in the past," he said, assuring the court that it would be peaceful and not affect routine life. He also urged the court to intervene against the tear gas shelling by the authorities on the protesters.

The apex court directed the attorney general to seek directions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the PTI's demands. The AG should inform the court after an hour after seeking instructions from the PM, the court said.

Justice Ahsan said that the PTI's demands were clear and expressed hope that parties would reach a decision within an hour.

The attorney general said the PM would soon nominate a team for talks with the PTI. "The prime minister wants political matters to be settled outside of court," he said.

Pre-empting protests through raids is 'illegal': Justice Ahsan

Once the hearing resumed, Justice Ahsan asked Awan how long the PTI planned to protest. The PTI counsel excused himself from answering the query, saying: "This is a political decision. Let it be decided on a political forum."

Awan reiterated that his party's demand was to have immediate elections as he refused to engage with the attorney general on that topic.

Justice Ahsan remarked that pre-empting protests by way of raids and arrests was an "illegal act" but also said that "the PTI won't be allowed to close the Motorway or Faizabad [interchange]."

He said the court would issue a formal order regarding shelling and baton charge.

Meanwhile, Justice Naqvi said that "the FIRs filed under the MPO won't fly." At this, Justice Ahsan said that an order will also be issued about the MPO.

The Supreme Court bench expressed its displeasure at action taken by the Punjab police. "Is the police mandated to smash cars and set fires?"

The additional advocate general Punjab appeared to justify police action by telling the court that "weapons were found from a home in Lahore."

"Weapons are kept in every house these days," justice Naqvi said. "What is this weapons story being told [to the court] since this morning. Just stop with this weapons story now.

Justice Ahsan said that Lahore has been turned into a "battlefield", adding that "what's happening there is unfortunate."

Islamabad chief commissioner told to provide alternate site

Earlier today, the apex court directed the Islamabad chief commissioner to provide an alternate site to the PTI to hold its Azadi March by 2:30pm and create a traffic plan for protesters so they could reach it.

"Let them protest and then go home," Justice Ahsan said. "We expect the government to remove barricades." The court directed the interior secretary and police to review their policies on road closures.

Justice Ahsan said the court would also seek assurances from the PTI that the protest would be peaceful, property would not be damaged and there would be no torture or violence.

Earlier today, the court directed the interior secretary, Islamabad's chief commissioner, deputy commissioner, inspector general of police and advocate general to appear in the court at 12pm.

The apex court issued notices to provincial governments as well.

When the hearing resumed after 12pm, Justice Ahsan said the officials, along with the attorney general, should find a solution.

He also directed PTI's lawyer Faisal Chaudhry to "sit at the negotiating table" with the administration officials and gave him time till 2:30pm to get instructions from the party leadership in this regard.

The court also directed authorities to provide complete protection to PTI leaders for the negotiations.

"If the PTI fears arrests, it should provide us with a list. We will protect those who fear arrests," Justice Ahsan said.

He added said political parties had their own interests but they were secondary to the country and the people.

'Permission denied because of security reasons'

Meanwhile, Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf told the Supreme Court that the government did not allow the PTI to hold its Azadi March on Islamabad's Srinagar Highway because there was a "threat" to party chairman Imran Khan's life according to reports from security agencies.

"The permission to gather at Srinagar Highway was denied due to the security situation. Imran Khan's life is in danger as per reports of security agencies. Security agencies have raised fears of a suicide attack on the former prime minister."

However, Justice Ahsan said the AGP was deviating from the original issue and asked whether the police were conducting raids and arresting PTI leaders and workers.

"If the government has a problem [with the march] on Srinagar Highway, why are Lahore and Sargodha and the rest of the country closed?" Justice Ahsan asked, while Justice Akhtar questioned:

"Is the threat to political leadership only on Srinagar Highway?

Justice Naqvi asked the interior secretary whether he was ready to take responsibility for what was happening in the country.

The official responded that law and order was the province's domain at which Justice Naqvi asked whether the interior ministry only served as a post office.

"Has the interior ministry issued any policy directives?" Justice Ahsan asked to which the official replied in the negative. The judge then observed that raiding people's homes was illegal.

"Action is being taken based only on reports from intelligence agencies," the interior secretary said.

Justice Ahsan then directed the official to present a complete plan for holding protests without closure of roads.

Judges question AGP over closures

Earlier during the hearing, Justice Ahsan observed that emergency had been imposed in all hospitals in the capital while schools and transport had been closed.

The country was at a critical juncture economically and on the verge of bankruptcy, he remarked. "Will the country be shut down for every protest?" he asked.

All exams had been postponed, roads blocked and businesses closed, he observed.

Attorney General Ausaf told the court he did not know the details and sought time to get information.

At this, Justice Naqvi observed half of the Supreme Court's staff had been unable to reach the premises because of barricades.

The AGP said the court was perhaps referring to media reports about school closures, which were not always correct.

However, Justice Naqvi observed that notifications had been issued in this regard.

Justice Ahsan said it appeared the government wanted to shut down businesses.

Attorney General Ausaf argued that the PTI had "threatened a bloody march", adding that while he was against blocking roads, "unavoidable" steps had to be taken to protect the lives and properties of citizens.

The context for the blockades should be seen, he contended.

At this point, Justice Naqvi observed that sites had been allocated for protests in the past and the PTI had submitted a request for permission for the march, according to media reports.

The AGP replied that he would find out from the authorities what the decision on that application was.

Meanwhile, IHCBA President Shoaib Shaheen informed the court that police was arresting lawyers from their homes. "A raid was conducted on former judge Nasira Iqbal's home at night. The protesters and the government are both bound to act in accordance with the law and the Constitution."

Justice Naqvi agreed, saying no one had the power to take the law into their own hands.

"How can armed people be allowed to protest?" asked the attorney general. In response, the IHCBA president asked how armed people could be present when the protest had not even started.

"Maulana Fazlur Rehman has twice held a sit-in at Srinagar Highway. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has also held a long march to Islamabad. A site can still be allocated for the [PTI] protesters."

All highways in the country except for those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been closed, he said and added that common people, including lawyers were being harassed.

"People's homes are being [raided] at night. Supreme Court's directives regarding protests are available. The government's steps are unconstitutional," he said, adding that the IHCBA had approached the SC only for ensuring citizens' rights.

When the attorney general requested the court to stop the media from broadcasting Justice Ahsan's remarks about the economy, the judge responded that everyone already knew the situation.

Subsequently, the court directed authorities to submit the record of directives issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) yesterday on a petition against the alleged harassment of PTI workers.

The IHC advised the PTI to follow the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court for holding the long march and also instructed the relevant authorities to do the same to regulate political gatherings in Islamabad.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah did not accept the PTI's request of passing a blanket order against the arrest of its leadership and activists, however, issued directions that they may not be harassed.

Petition

Against the backdrop of PTI's Azadi March, which is reaching Islamabad later today, the petition sought a direction against interior secretary as well as home secretaries of the four provinces to remove hurdles erected on different highways that restricted the movement of citizens and restrain state agencies and institutions from harassing people and taking any unconstitutional and illegal step.

The petition was moved under Article 184(3) of the Constitution after Shoaib Shaheen invited the attention of Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial during a routine hearing in courtroom no. 1 towards difficulties being faced by citizens due to roadblocks as well as police raids on residences of lawyers.

At this the court observed that it could not allow anyone to logjam the city and suggested the counsel to move a petition since the court could not initiate suo motu notice on its own for which it had developed certain guidelines.

The petition was then moved which highlighted that the roads and highways were being blocked by different state institutions or executive authorities making it difficult for senior counsel and advocates to reach the courts and also hindered the movement of citizens, ambulances and doctors.

The petitioner contended that freedom of movement was the fundamental right of every citizen and all executive authorities, state agencies and institutions were bound to abide by the Constitution.