ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday quashed all cases registered for violation of Section 144.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) counsel Niazullah Niazi had submitted a petition in the IHC on September 13 against Section 144, following which IHC Chief Justice Anwar Kasi had issued orders for the release of the persons arrested for violating Section 144 after midnight.
The court had ordered the release of over 650 people, including DJ Butt, a sound engineer of PTI.
It had also issued a notice to the government and sought reply on the petition.
The hearing was taken up today during which counsels from both the sides presented their arguments.
Niazi contended that arrests could only be made if they were mandated by a District Magistrate.
"Under 195 CRPC Section (i) (a), it is written that a district magistrate has the power to submit the application by the police against violation of Section 144 imposed by the authorities."
Meanwhile, District Attorney Raja Khalid opposed the arguments of the counsel and said that all the FIRs had been registered as per the law.
After hearing the arguments, Justice Kasi remarked that the court would not tolerate lawlessness in the country, adding that it would not let the authorities make arbitrary arrests.
He said they needed to make sure that the arrests were valid.
The court subsequently dismissed all cases registered for violation of Section 144.
