LAHORE: A Lahore High Court full bench on Friday admitted for hearing a petition seeking a restraining order against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan from holding a sit-in on Nov 30 allegedly aimed at overthrowing the government.

Hearing the petition, the bench also regretted that the government ignored court’s previous orders about Azadi march and sit-ins.

Headed by Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan, the bench observed that the Constitution and the courts were being ridiculed. The bench adjourned hearing till Nov 24 and sought replies from PTI chairman Imran Khan, federal and provincial governments.

Earlier, petitioner’s counsel A.K Dogar argued that the PTI had threatened to overthrow PML-N elected government by way of holding dharnain Islamabad. He said no state could tolerate utterances or actions that threaten to overthrow the government by unlawful or unconstitutional means. He said if a government had to survive it must have the power to protect itself against unlawful conduct.

The counsel said Imran Khan had not been dealt with in accordance with law and he had now threatened the government that after 30th of Nov 2014 his sit-in ( dharna) will not remain peaceful and government will not be able to function. He said the conduct of Mr Khan created uncertainty in Pakistan and the people were worried about the future of their country.

Advocate Dogar asked the court to direct the government to act in accordance with law and restrain Imran Khan from utterances and actions likely to cause disorder, disruption and anarchy in the country.

Replies sought: The Lahore High Court on Friday sought replies from federal and Punjab governments about alleged crackdown on workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the wake of Nov 30 sit-inannounced by party chief Imran Khan.

Representing a petition filed by PTI workers, Advocate Gohar Nawaz Sindhu asked the court to restrain police from arresting party workers.

The court, however, turned down the request and observed that version of the government was necessary before passing any order.

Justice Mahmood Maqbool Bajwa directed a law officer to appear on Nov 24 with instructions from the government.

The petitioners alleged the Punjab government wanted to fail their party’s public meeting and ordered police to arrest workers in large numbers.

They alleged the police were conducting raids on the residences of party workers and shifting them to unknown places.

The petitioners asked the court to restrain the government from arresting party workers and order it to release the detainees immediately.

Published in Dawn, November 22th, 2014