IHC Summons Provincial Chiefs, Police Heads Over PTI’s September 27 Islamabad March
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday summoned the chief secretaries and inspectors general of police of all four provinces as it took up a petition challenging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned September 27 protest and long march towards Islamabad.
IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, hearing a petition filed by citizen Waqas Ahmed, also decided to constitute a larger bench because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The court issued notice to the Attorney General for Pakistan and sought responses from federal and provincial authorities over preparations for the demonstration.
The development comes as PTI intensifies mobilisation for the September 27 march, which Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has vowed to lead towards the federal capital.
IHC Summons Senior Officials in Person
The court directed the chief secretaries and inspectors general of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to appear in person.
Islamabad’s chief commissioner, deputy commissioner and inspector general of police were also summoned.
The advocates general of all four provinces and Islamabad were directed to appear before the court, while notices were issued to the provincial police chiefs and other relevant authorities.
The order significantly expands the scope of proceedings beyond Islamabad because PTI plans to mobilise supporters from different parts of Pakistan.
Trader Challenges Planned PTI Protest
Petitioner Waqas Ahmed has approached the court over concerns that the planned demonstration could disrupt traffic, routine life and business activity in Islamabad.
His lawyer told the court that Ahmed was a trader operating in the capital and could therefore be directly affected if the protest entered Islamabad.
The petition asks the court to ensure that Islamabad’s roads remain open on September 27 and seeks measures preventing the use of government offices and resources for political purposes.
It also raises concerns over the potential use of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister’s office and provincial government resources in connection with the march.
Court Questions Possible Use of Government Machinery
During the hearing, Chief Justice Dogar asked whether KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi would accompany the protesters along with government machinery.
The petitioner’s counsel alleged that provincial government machinery would be used and referred to the November 2024 PTI protest in Islamabad while presenting arguments about previous unrest.
These remain claims made by the petitioner’s lawyer before the court and should not be presented as judicial findings.
The counsel also said that no application had yet been submitted to the Islamabad district magistrate seeking permission for the September 27 demonstration.
Petition Cites 2024 PTI Protest
The petitioner’s lawyer referred extensively to PTI’s November 2024 mobilisation in Islamabad.
He claimed the earlier protest resulted in deaths and financial losses, and argued that another large-scale demonstration could create similar risks for residents, traders and the capital’s administration.
The lawyer also argued that while the Constitution protects the right to peaceful protest, that right remains subject to lawful restrictions and regulation.
The court has not, at this stage, ruled on the merits of those allegations.
PTI Says March Will Press for Imran Khan’s Release
PTI has announced the September 27 march as part of its campaign seeking the release of party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
The party has been preparing a central convoy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with supporters from other parts of Pakistan expected to participate in wider demonstrations.
An earlier preliminary strategy called for party workers intending to join the main convoy to reach Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at least five days before the march.
The central caravan was expected to remain near the Punjab-KP border for two to three days while other groups assembled before proceeding towards Islamabad.
The strategy also envisaged demonstrations and shutdowns in major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Hyderabad and Quetta, as well as protests along important highways.
Sohail Afridi Vows to Lead Protest
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has repeatedly said he will personally lead the September 27 mobilisation.
During earlier campaigning in Hangu, Afridi described the date as firm and urged PTI workers to prepare for the march.
More recently, while visiting Sindh, Afridi called on supporters to join the wider protest campaign.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has described the planned mobilisation as peaceful and said the party is seeking implementation of court orders and other political demands. He has also said PTI does not intend to use government resources for the protest.
That position differs directly from the petitioner’s allegation that provincial resources could be used, making the issue one of the matters likely to receive scrutiny during the court proceedings.
Larger Bench to Hear Sensitive Case
Chief Justice Dogar decided that the petition should be placed before a larger IHC bench, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
This is a procedural development rather than a final ruling on whether PTI may hold the march.
The court has not banned the September 27 protest in the proceedings reported so far.
Instead, it has summoned senior federal and provincial officials and sought their positions before deciding how the planned mobilisation should be handled under the law.
The case brings together several sensitive questions: PTI’s constitutional right to peaceful political protest, the government’s responsibility to maintain public order and access to the capital, and allegations concerning the potential use of provincial resources for partisan political activity.
With PTI continuing preparations and the IHC now escalating the matter to a larger bench, the legal and political focus on the September 27 Islamabad march is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
