ISLAMABAD: In response to a petition against road blockades used to protect government offices and players, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sent summons to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) stakeholders, local government, and police.
Notices were served to the respondents listed in the petition by IHC Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz. These respondents included the secretaries of the Interior, Law, Cabinet Division, Inter Provincial Coordination, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Chief Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Inspector General Islamabad, Capital Development Authority (CDA), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Leonine Global Sports, Owner of Islamabad United, Salman Iqbal, Owner of Karachi King, Fawad Rana, Owner of Lahore Qalandars, Ali Tareen, Owner of Multan Sultan, Javed Afridi, Owner of Peshawar Zalmi, Nadeem Omar, Owner of Quetta Gladiators, Auditor General, and Serena Hotel.
The petitioner told the court that the obstruction of the highways surrounding the Serena Hotel, which is the primary entry point for attorneys and plaintiffs in Constitutional Courts, caused harm to the general public.
Additionally, the roadblock inconveniently affected the Public Secretariat visitors.
It stated that this game has not yet been recognized by the Olympics and that the PSL is a profitable enterprise with prominent businesspeople as its key partners.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia served as the models for the 2015 PSL introduction by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which saw rapid popularity.
The petitioner claimed that in December 2015, the commercial rights to the original franchises were sold for US$ 93 million, good for ten years. PSL’s market worth reached US$ 300 million in 2017 and was rising daily. It made US$ 2.6 million in profit in 2016 and 71 percent more in the PSL in 2022, with each franchise taking home US$ 3.1 million (about Rs. 900 million). Over Rs5 billion was made in income for the 2023 edition. Prior to the league’s inaugural season in 2015, about twenty parties expressed interest in purchasing franchises, according to a news release from the PCB. Due to payment difficulties, one franchise was discontinued, and respondent number 14 was added in 2017.
The main entrances to Constitution Avenue surrounding the Serena Hotel are blocked for the sole reason that players from PSL matches have stayed there. This is an example of how the respective governments have arranged security for the players in a way that continuously violates civil and fundamental rights based only on fears.
He asked the court to order the reopening of the restricted roads that lead to Constitutional Avenue by the authorities.
