SC rejects plea to take suo motu notice on deaths during PTI protest

Islamabad: The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench has rejected an appeal to take suo motu notice of the deaths during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest.

During the hearing of the case related to the Climate Change Authority in the Supreme Court, a request was made verbally by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government lawyer, in which he said that there were deaths from both sides yesterday, the constitutional bench can take suo motu notice.

On this, Justice Musarat Hilali said that one should not talk about politics while appearing in the Supreme Court. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel said that the matter was not before them, therefore, they did not want to talk about it.

The head of the constitutional bench, Justice Aminuddin Khan, remarked that the matter was not before them and could not see it.

Later, the constitutional bench of the court rejected the verbal request of Additional Advocate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take suo motu notice.

It is pertinent to note that four law enforcement officials have been martyred in the PTI protests that began on November 24.

On the other hand, conflicting statements have emerged from PTI leaders regarding the deaths of party workers in clashes with the police.

PTI MLA Sher Afzal Marwat said that 12 workers were killed during the protests, while the PTI spokesperson claimed eight deaths.

According to the Polyclinic Hospital authorities, two bodies and 26 injured were brought to the hospital. All the people brought to the Polyclinic have been shot, while most of the injured belong to different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.