LAHORE: Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf on Monday told a Lahore High Court full bench that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf`s ongoing protest was an attempt to influence proceedings before the Supreme Court on its petition onPanama leaks.

During hearing of multiple petitions against PTPs Nov 2 Islamabad `lockdown` plan and arrest of its workers, the attorney general argued before the bench that the apex court had already taken cognizance of the Panama leaks issue, therefore, the PTPs protest was nothing but parallel political proceedings.Justice Shahid Hameed Dar heads the bench with Justice Muhammad Anwarul Haq and Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan.

The PTI wanted to influence the court on a sub judice matter through street protests, which was an unconstitutional act, the principal law officer said and showed the bench some videos of PTI Chairman Imran Khan wherein he was announcing paralysing the government.

He said the PTPs protest was not in accordance with the Constitution and law.

He also denied an allegation by PTI lawyers that roads of Punjab had been blocked by putting containers.

Advocate Ahmad Awais represented the PTI along with party`s Lahore president Barrister Walid Iqbal. They undertook before the bench that the protest activity would be peaceful and unarmed.

However, they appeared reluc-tant to come up with an undertaking when repeatedly asked by the judges whether the protest would be an area-specific activity.

They also failed to satisfy the bench whether the federal capital would be sealed or locked by the party even if containers and all barricades put on the roads were removed.

Advocate Awais insisted that the Islamabad `lockdown` plan was a symbolic expression given by the PTIchief.

The attorney general told the bench that the writ of the government would be established if there was any violation of the law.

Advocate General Punjab Shakilur Rehman Khan also toldthe bench that no road in the province was closed by the government.

However, he said, the government had information that arms were being transported to Islamabad and police had been ordered to be vigilant with regard to the activities of the PTI workers.

At one juncture, Justice Dar observed that overthrowing an elected government either good or bad was unconstitutional and tantamount to sedition under Article 5 of the Constitution.

The judge said, `Everyone including opposition has to be loyal to the state.

Ruling out possibility of any unconstitutional move by the PTI, Advocate Awais said the partywould not have approached the Supreme Court had it wanted to topple the government.

The bench reserved verdict on the petitions against the Nov 2 protest and sought reports from the government by Tuesday (today) on petitions against arrests of the workers of PTI and other political parties.

The bench further asked Advocate General Khan to submit a separate report about an alleged midnight raid conducted at the residence of Walid Iqbal, grandson of poet-philosopher Allama Iqbal.

The bench also asked the attorney general to submit transcripts of `objectionable` speeches of Imran Khan.