IHC Bars Harassment, Arrest of PTI Leaders Ahead of Sept 27 March
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: The Islamabad High Court has ordered authorities not to harass or arrest several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders ahead of the party’s planned September 27 march, while summoning a senior Islamabad police officer over allegations of raids and detentions targeting party workers.
Justice Raja Inam Ameen Minhas heard the petition concerning alleged harassment of PTI leaders in the run-up to the planned mobilisation. Lawyers Shoaib Shaheen and Riasat Azad appeared before the court on behalf of Malik Amir Ali and other petitioners.
During the hearing, Shaheen alleged that authorities had again begun conducting raids and arrests before the planned march.
He told the court that the homes of PTI workers were being raided and further alleged that property and money had been taken during some operations. Shaheen also claimed that his family was being harassed despite his own health condition.
He made additional allegations involving the detention of women and children during raids and told the court he was prepared to submit an affidavit and CCTV footage in support of his claims.
These allegations were presented by Shaheen before the court; the Express report does not establish them as independently verified findings.
SSP Operations Islamabad Summoned
Shaheen asked the court to restrain authorities from arresting or harassing the petitioners and requested that the next hearing be scheduled for the following week.
Justice Minhas said the court could summon the SSP Operations Islamabad to seek an explanation and issue an appropriate order.
The court subsequently summoned the SSP Operations to appear in person and restrained authorities from harassing or arresting Shoaib Shaheen, Malik Amir Ali and the other PTI leaders covered by the proceedings. The hearing was then adjourned.
A significant editorial distinction is necessary: the available report does not establish a blanket nationwide prohibition on arresting every PTI leader or worker.
The order reported by Express concerns the petitioners before Justice Minhas, including Shaheen and Malik Amir Ali. It should therefore not be expanded in headlines or social posts into a general immunity from arrest for all PTI members.
PTI Preparing for September 27 Mobilisation
The legal development comes as PTI continues preparations for its planned September 27 march towards Islamabad.
The party’s core committee reaffirmed the September 27 plan earlier this month and discussed preparations for possible arrests and road closures. PTI sources said the party intended to proceed with the mobilisation unless its founding chairman changed the decision.
PTI has since indicated that its mobilisation could potentially begin before September 27. At a parliamentary party meeting in Peshawar, party organisations were instructed to identify locations for camps near Punjab’s border, while separate plans were prepared for travel through the motorway and GT Road.
The planned march is also the subject of separate proceedings before the Islamabad High Court.
On September 14, a three-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar reserved its decision on a petition challenging the proposed protest after hearing arguments and a statement from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief.
During those proceedings, the KP police chief told the court that authorities would act against any unlawful or unconstitutional gathering within their jurisdiction. The court had previously sought assurances that government machinery and public resources would not be used for political gatherings.
These are separate legal proceedings from Wednesday’s order protecting specific PTI petitioners from harassment and arrest.
The latest order therefore addresses the immediate legal protection sought by the named PTI leaders while broader questions surrounding the legality, administration and security arrangements for the September 27 mobilisation remain under judicial consideration.
