ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday issued notices to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri during the hearing of a petition filed by the Lahore High Court's Multan Bar Association.

The petitioner had named Khan and Qadri as respondents and maintained the following pleas:

1 — The apex court restrain the respondents from illegal and unlawful trespassing of prohibited zones including Constitution Avenue, offices of foreign missions, Pakistan secretariat and secretariat offices. The plea also requested that they be legally banned from conducting any sort of march including dharna and civil disobedience by offending public peace and tranquility in any manner whatsoever in all times to come.

2 — The federation of Pakistan, (secretary of law, interior secretary etc) may be graciously directed to perform their functions in accordance with the mandatory provision of the Constitution in the face of unlawful and unconstitutional activities of movements of respondents PAT, PTI.

During the hearing, the court said that every citizen has the right to protest, as per the constitution as long as the protests did not cause any hardship to other citizens.

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Kamran Khan told the court that high court bar associations from other provinces were filing similar petitions.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasirul Mulk admitted the petition, filed by the Lahore High Court's Multan Bar Association and issued notices to the concerned parties while adjourning the hearing of the case until tomorrow (Thursday 9:30 am).