Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said Friday that there were fears of attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan as he cautioned the federal government and the state to look into the matter while citing the intelligence reports.

Justice Farooq made these remarks while hearing the petitions filed by the PTI seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) for a long march and sit-in in the Islamabad and by traders against blocking the roads in federal capital.

He remarked that holding protests was constitutional right of the political parties and non-political entities. However, he added, ordinary citizens and businessmen also had rights which should not be violated.

Advocate General Islamabad said that the petitioner had no idea when the PTI’s march would reach and would stage its protest rally. The Additional Attorney General said that the application was dated November 3 which had become ineffective.

The court then instructed the PTI to inform the administration about the date of the rally and take permission, adding that the decision in this regard had to be taken by the administration, to which the assistant counsel said that PTI would submit the application to the administration today (Friday).

The court maintained that if the PTI wanted to hold a rally, it could file a fresh application to the Deputy Commissioner and if the administration permits the party should not block the roads.

The IHC CJ also quoted England’s protest saying people protested outside PM’s residence, but they did not block roads.

The Chief Justice said in his remarks that whatever had to be done should be done according to the law.