ISLAMABAD, Sep 08 (Alliance News): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the attorney general, inspectors general of police and advocate generals of all four provinces on a petition challenging the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned nationwide protests and September 27 long march on Islamabad.
PTI has announced nationwide protests and a long march towards Islamabad on September 27 to demand the release of jailed party founder Imran Khan.
IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard the petition filed by citizen Waqas Ahmed and directed the respondents to appear before the court in their personal capacities.
The court also decided to constitute a larger bench to hear the petition and adjourned further proceedings until September 10.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel said he was a trader doing business in Islamabad and that the planned protest would affect his business activities.
Referring to statements by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the lawyer argued that several cases involving PTI leaders were already pending before the courts and should be dealt with according to law.
He questioned whether people across Pakistan could take to the streets whenever their cases were pending before courts.
The counsel also raised concerns about a possible attack on Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, referring to the previous attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ), and questioned how the country’s system could function if such actions continued.
Describing the proposed protest as “completely illegal”, the lawyer claimed previous PTI demonstrations had resulted in casualties and financial losses.
He said three Rangers personnel were killed during a previous protest and cited media reports estimating financial losses from the last demonstration at Rs240 million.
The counsel argued that the planned protests were intended to pressure the government and courts into providing relief in pending cases.
He stressed that the Constitution guaranteed judicial independence and questioned whether courts could be pressured by bringing large crowds to Islamabad.
The lawyer also referred to the £190 million case and other pending proceedings, arguing that the courts had repeatedly sought arguments on an appeal but those arguments had not been presented.
He questioned whether street protests could be used to pressure the judiciary, saying guidelines could be issued for demonstrations but should not facilitate individuals involved in criminal cases.
The chief justice asked whether protesters would arrive in Islamabad alongside the KP chief minister and government machinery. The counsel replied in the affirmative and presented a November 21, 2024 letter from the Ministry of Interior.
He alleged that government machinery had been used during the PTI’s 2024 protest despite instructions from the Interior Ministry.
The lawyer further said no application had so far been submitted to the Islamabad district magistrate for the planned September 27 demonstration.
The court issued notices to the attorney general, the four provincial inspectors general of police and advocate generals, summoning them in their personal capacities.
The larger bench will hear the petition when the matter comes up again on September 10.
The development comes after KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi recently led the PTI’s five-day mobilisation campaign across Sindh to build support for the party’s demands, including the release of Imran Khan and his immediate medical treatment.
Former prime minister Imran Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023 following convictions that he and his party have described as politically motivated.
Since his ouster in April 2022, Khan has faced multiple cases, while some convictions have been suspended or overturned and several appeals remain pending.
