ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday constituted a larger bench to hear a petition seeking to prevent Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) from holding its planned Sept 27 long march, observing that the matter was sensitive and had constitutional implications.

Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, who initially heard the petition, constituted a three-member bench comprising himself, Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Muhammad Asif to hear the matter.

During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the protesters could have the machinery of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government at their disposal.

At that, the chief justice repeated the question, asking whether the protesters would have the KP government’s machinery.

Party says protest is fundamental right, vows to hold march at all costs

The counsel claimed that they would and produced before the court a letter dated Nov 21, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Interior. He argued that despite the federal government’s communication, government machinery had allegedly been used during the 2024 protest.

The lawyer claimed that, so far, no application had been submitted to the Islamabad district magistrate seeking permission for the planned protest.

He also contended that PTI founder Imran Khan was a convicted prisoner and that two cases concerning him were pending before the IHC. He read out orders passed in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case and argued that the court had repeatedly asked Mr Imran’s counsel to advance arguments on the appeal against his conviction, but the arguments had not been concluded.

“This is his position in a legal matter before this court,” the counsel said.

He then questioned whether the government could direct a court to suspend a sentence in an appeal merely because two million people came out in support of the convict.

“Can the government direct the court to suspend the sentence in an appeal? Is this possible?” the counsel asked, asserting that the Constitution clearly provided for the independence of the judiciary.

Referring to political developments in other provinces, the counsel said a march had also taken place in Sindh and that KP authorities had announced that facilities would be provided to protesters.

He argued that courts could issue guidelines regarding protests, but such arrangements could not be used to provide relief to individuals facing criminal cases.

After hearing the initial arguments, Chief Justice Dogar observed that the matter was sensitive and had constitutional implications.

The court subsequently issued notices to the relevant parties, including the attorney general for Pakistan; chief secretaries and inspectors general (IGs) of KP, Punjab and Balochistan; and the chief commissioner, deputy commissioner and IG of Islamabad.

The court summoned the officials in their personal capacity. Notices were also issued to the advocates general of KP, Punjab and Balochistan, along with the Islamabad prosecutor general.

PTI reaction

Reacting to the proceedings, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram expressed serious concern over what he described as the continued denial of constitutional and democratic rights, suppression of political activities, attacks on political workers, increases in fuel prices and “short-sighted” policies that were pushing Pakistan deeper into political, economic and institutional instability.

In a statement issued by the PTI Central Media Department, Mr Waqas said the IHC’s decision to constitute a larger bench to hear the petition against the Sept 27 long march raised serious questions about the priorities of the judicial system.

He said protest was a fundamental right guaranteed and that any administrative or legal restriction on this right would amount to a violation of the Constitution. He described the petition seeking to prevent the peaceful march as baseless and a manifestation of what he called the “Form-47 government’s” growing fear of PTI’s rising popularity and public support.

Ikram Junaidi also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2026