LHC declares PTI, PAT demands 'unconstitutional'

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued its detailed verdict over the petition filed by a citizen against the marches announced by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and declared the demands put forward by Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri were “unconstitutional”. “We are convinced that demands raised by the chairman PTI and chairman PAT as mentioned in paragraph No1 herein above read with statement of learned counsel for respondent No 4 referred in para No 3 above are in violation of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and as such for resolving the important constitutional issue, we admit this petition for regular hearing.” The PTI and PAT demands which the verdict has referred to in the nine-page verdict are as follows: "(a) The Prime Minister of Pakistan should step down; (b) The Parliament of Pakistan be dissolved; (c) Election Commission be re-constituted; and (d) Interim government of technocrats be formed and election be held. And in case the above said demands are not accepted, they will continue with their Dharna (sit-in) in Islamabad D-Chowk and they will choke the entire system unless their demands are accepted." The court observed that leaders and activists of PTI and PAT could face legal action in case the constitution was violated.