The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the attorney general, the inspectors general of police, and the advocate generals of all four provinces after a petition was filed against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s proposed nationwide demonstrations and its PTI long march Islamabad, scheduled for September 27.
PTI, currently the country’s largest opposition party, has called for countrywide protests culminating in a march on the federal capital, demanding the release of its founder, Imran Khan, who remains behind bars.
Court Directs Officials to Appear in Person
IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar took up the petition filed by a private citizen, Waqas Ahmed, and ordered the named officials to appear before the court in their personal capacities. The bench also announced that a larger panel of judges would be formed to hear the case going forward.
Representing the petitioner, the counsel told the court that his client was a businessman based in Islamabad who stood to be directly affected once the demonstrations reached the capital. He referred to recent remarks made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, noting that several legal matters involving PTI leadership were already before the courts and ought to be resolved through due legal process rather than street agitation.
“If this logic is accepted, then every citizen across Pakistan with a pending case would also have grounds to protest,” the lawyer argued before the bench.
Security and Financial Concerns Raised
The counsel raised concerns about potential threats to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, drawing a comparison to the earlier assault on the General Headquarters (GHQ). He questioned how state institutions could function if such incidents kept recurring, calling the proposed march “completely illegal” under the circumstances.
He further alleged that past PTI demonstrations had resulted in loss of life and significant financial damage, pointing to the deaths of three Rangers personnel during an earlier protest. Citing media estimates, he claimed the previous round of demonstrations had cost the national economy roughly Rs240 million.
According to the petitioner’s lawyer, the real objective behind the PTI September 27 protest was to pressure the government into securing relief for party leaders in ongoing court cases, undermining the judiciary’s constitutionally guaranteed independence. “Would bringing two million people to Islamabad allow the government to instruct courts to suspend sentences in pending appeals?” he asked.
Chief Justice Questions Government Involvement
Chief Justice Dogar inquired whether the protesters would be accompanied by the KP chief minister along with provincial government resources. The counsel confirmed this and submitted a letter dated November 21, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Interior, as supporting evidence.
He alleged that during PTI’s 2024 protest, official government machinery had been deployed despite explicit instructions from the Interior Ministry against such use. He also noted that, as of the hearing, no formal application had been submitted to the Islamabad district magistrate seeking permission for the upcoming demonstration.
The lawyer additionally referenced the £190 million reference case and other pending matters involving PTI leadership, telling the court that despite repeated requests for arguments on a related appeal, none had been presented so far. He asked whether street protests should be allowed to function as leverage against the judiciary, suggesting that while guidelines for peaceful demonstrations were reasonable, they should not become a shield for individuals facing criminal proceedings.
Case Adjourned Until September 10
Following the arguments, the IHC issued formal notices to the attorney general, the four provincial IGs, and the advocate generals, directing them to appear in person. The court confirmed that a larger bench would be constituted to hear the matter and adjourned proceedings until September 10.
The petition comes shortly after KP Chief Minister Afridi wrapped up a five-day mobilisation drive across Sindh, aimed at building public support for PTI’s core demands: the release of party founder Imran Khan and access to immediate medical treatment.
Khan, 73, has remained in custody since August 2023, following a series of convictions that he and his party maintain were politically motivated. Since being removed from office in April 2022, he has faced numerous legal cases, some of which have since been suspended or overturned on appeal, while several others remain unresolved before the courts.