Pakistan protesters given ultimatum to clear the streets

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Monday ordered the supporters of Imran Khan and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri to clear the Constitution Avenue within 24 hours so that the movement of judges and officials is not hampered.

Thousands of supporters of Mr. Khan and Mr. Qadri are staging a sit-in on the Constitution Avenue on which the Parliament and the Supreme Court are situated. The protesters have blocked the main avenue for all kinds of traffic.

Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk said supporters of Mr. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Mr. Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek should move away from the road as “this route will be used to travel to the court.”

The order was given by the court while hearing petitions filed against the protests for using extra-constitutional measures to remove the government.

Justice Mulk lamented that the fence of the court was being used by the protesters to dry their clothes. He was referring to a picture in the media showing clothes of protesters hanging outside the apex court.

He said the protesters had set up hurdles not only for the judges but also the lawyers and litigants.

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