The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has instructed Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Nawaz Memon to engage in negotiations with protesters demonstrating outside the National Press Club and ensure a peaceful end to their sit-in. The order came during a hearing on a petition filed by a nearby F-6 petrol pump, which complained that the protest by families of missing Baloch individuals was disrupting their business operations. Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, presiding over the case, expressed concern over the prolonged roadblock and its impact on local businesses.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Dogar questioned the DC about the administration’s failure to resolve the protest. “Negotiate with the protesters and tell them they cannot sit here. Why is the road blocked? The businesses in the area are being affected,” he remarked. Advocate General Islamabad, Ayyaz Shaukat, informed the court that the Baloch Youth Council was leading the protest and admitted that no official permission had been granted for the demonstration. “We disperse them, but they return,” he added.
The court criticized the administration’s handling of the situation, stressing the need for immediate action. “The measures taken so far are inadequate. You are responsible for protecting the property rights of others as well,” Chief Justice Dogar stated. The DC proposed relocating the protesters to an alternative site, prompting the court to order immediate engagement with the demonstrators and clearance of the area. The chief justice also directed the DC to submit a progress report in the next hearing, scheduled after two weeks.
Emphasizing urgency, the chief justice clarified, “When we say fifteen days, it doesn’t mean you return after fifteen days.” The DC assured the court of prompt action. Meanwhile, the petitioner’s counsel urged swift implementation of the court’s orders, citing severe business disruptions. The chief justice reiterated that directives had been issued, and the next hearing will review the administration’s compliance. The Islamabad administration is expected to present a detailed report on the matter in the upcoming session.
