ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold its ‘Azadi March’ protest in the H-9 area of the federal capital.

A three-member bench comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Sayyed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi, also restrained the government from arresting PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The court issued the orders after hearing the petition filed by Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) President Shoaib Shaheen on Tuesday seeking removal of blockades in the federal capital ahead of the PTI’s Azadi March. The court directed the concerned authorities to not make unnecessary use of force and not raid the homes and offices of or arrest other PTI leaders and workers.

Besides, the court directed immediate release of detained lawyers as well as those arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance 1960. The court ordered that the automobiles confiscated within the last 48 hours be returned to their owners. The court directed that the lawyers on whom there are not serious charges should also be released immediately.

The court allowed the protest to continue on Srinagar Highway, however the flow of traffic must not be affected. The court issued the orders after the PTI assured that its workers would not cause damage to public and private properties.