ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has constituted a larger bench to hear a petition challenging the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) proposed protest and long march scheduled for September 27.
Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court Justice Sarfraz Dogar heard the petition filed by citizen Waqas Ahmed and constituted a three-member larger bench comprising Justice Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Azam Khan and Justice Muhammad Asif.
The larger bench will hear the case on September 10.
Considering the sensitivity of the matter, the court issued notices to the Attorney General and summoned the inspectors general of police (IGPs), advocate generals and chief secretaries of all four provinces to appear in person before the court.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel said his client was a businessman operating in Islamabad and argued that the proposed PTI protest could disrupt business activities and affect the daily lives of citizens if it was held in the federal capital.
The chief justice questioned how the petitioner qualified as an affected party. The lawyer responded that large-scale protests could disrupt routine activities and business operations in Islamabad.
The petitioner’s counsel also presented statements attributed to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister regarding the planned protest, along with newspaper clippings. He argued that several related matters were already pending before the courts and should be resolved through legal proceedings.
The counsel maintained that allowing street protests to pressure state institutions and courts was not acceptable. He also presented relevant legal provisions concerning protests and public order in Islamabad.
Referring to protests held in 2024, the lawyer claimed that attempts had been made to enter Islamabad and that three Rangers personnel were killed during the demonstrations. He also cited media reports claiming that the protests resulted in financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of rupees.
The counsel further argued that the government had constitutional and legal authority to impose reasonable restrictions on protests to maintain law and order.
During the proceedings, concerns were also raised over the alleged use of government machinery. The lawyer presented a letter issued by the Ministry of Interior on November 21, 2024, in support of his arguments.
Referring to the £190 million case, the counsel argued that the relevant party had been provided opportunities to present its case in the appeal, adding that legal remedies should be pursued through courts rather than through street protests.
In view of the sensitivity of the matter, the IHC issued notices to the Attorney General and summoned the IGPs, advocate generals and chief secretaries of all four provinces to appear before the larger bench on September 10.
The Islamabad High Court adjourned further proceedings until September 10.
