ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar on Friday questioned concerned establishments regarding the law banning protests in the Islamabad high-security Red Zone.
During the hearings of sou moto notice case of police action against journalists, CJP ordered a judicial inquiry of the incident, demanding an explanation of section 144 which bans the protests in Red zone.
Nisar observed that the journalists carried out a peaceful protest, directing Session Judge Sohail Nasir to investigate the incident within 10 days. Moreover, Nisar ordered all involved parties to oblige with the inquiry commission.
Inspector General of Police Islamabad, Sultan Azam Temuri informed the court that according to the law, a no-objection certificate (NOC) is needed for carrying out protests in the capital.
He further added that, police warned the journalists to not proceed towards the Red Zone but journalists attempted to break the police cordon near the parliament.
However, Chief Justice Nisar remarked that it is inappropriate to use violence against women and peaceful protesters. At least we should respect women, he added.
Earlier, CJP had taken notice of police violence on protesting journalists who tried to enter parliament from D-chowk but they were stopped by police.
Journalists wanted to present a charter of demands in Parliament the International Press Freedom Day
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