Published: Aug 12, 2014, 01:02 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 12, 2014, 01:02 AM (IST)
Aug 12, 2014
The Pakistani judiciary intervened into the current political standoff between the Pakistan government and the duo of cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan and Canada-based moderate cleric Tahirul Qadri.
According to reports by the Press Trust of India (PTI), the Lahore High Court summoned Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Qadri in response to a petition filed against them to prevent their planned marches to protest against the government’ handling of affairs on August 14. “They are going to destroy peace of the country and demolish the setup of democracy,” the petitioner Muhammad Kamran was quoted as saying.
A three member bench headed by Justice Khalid Mahmood adjourned the hearing till tomorrow directed federal and provincial authorities to come up with solutions for a peaceful solution to the crisis.
The bench also called for the government to initiate a dialogue with the opposing faction. “The government should initiate dialogue process with the protesting parties to maintain stability in the country. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should visit Imran Khan even 10 times for the stability in the country. Banigala, the residence of Imran Khan, is not so far from the PM House,” said Justice Mahmood.
Imran Khan, who famously captained Pakistan to their only World Cup triumph in 1992, has locked horns with the current Nawaz Sharif-led government over allegations of rigging the 2013 elections, in which Imran contested, as well as corruption and mismanagement of the country’s resources.
