ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench dismissed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s request to take suo motu notice of the casualties during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest in the federal capital. This request was made during a hearing on a petition addressing the existential threat posed by climate change.
The KP Additional Advocate General urged the court to address the reported casualties on both sides of the protest, citing constitutional relevance. However, Justice Aminuddin Khan, leading the bench, clarified that the court could not consider matters outside its current scope. Justice Musarrat Hilali criticized the law officer for bringing political issues into the proceedings, while Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail reiterated that the matter was not before the bench, leading to the rejection of the request via video link.
The petition itself was initiated by the Public Interest Law Association of Pakistan and had been referred to the constitutional bench from Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah’s panel.
SCBA Demands Judicial Inquiry
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Mian Mohammad Rauf Atta called for a judicial inquiry into the loss of lives during the protest. He criticized both the KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, urging them to step down. According to Mr. Atta, Chief Minister Gandapur prioritized political gains over addressing law and order in his province, while Minister Naqvi was accused of deploying excessive force against protesters.
The SCBA expressed deep concern over the use of coercive measures, noting that casualties, including unarmed protesters, resulted from the mishandling of the situation. Mr. Atta emphasized the importance of safeguarding fundamental human rights and urged the federal government to replace Minister Naqvi with an elected public representative capable of negotiating and avoiding violence.
The Need for Dialogue and Reconciliation
Highlighting the avoidable loss of lives, Mr. Atta stressed that dialogue could have prevented the carnage. He criticized the government’s approach, noting that democratic societies worldwide view such actions unfavorably. The SCBA remains committed to the rule of law and the protection of civilian rights, condemning the mishandling of protests that resulted in numerous injuries and deaths.
