PTI's Sept 27 protest: KP IG bars police from facilitating Islamabad-bound rallies

• IGP Zulfiqar Hameed issues directive to relevant officers.
• IHC issued order related to PTI's September 27 protest.
• Govt machinery cannot facilitate protest activities: IHC order.

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed has directed police officers not to facilitate any march, rally or procession heading towards Islamabad ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned September 27 protest.

On September 14, the IHC had ordered provincial governments to prevent the use of state funds, personnel, vehicles, machinery and other official resources for protests and rallies.

It also barred provincial authorities from forcing public servants to participate in political activities and ordered senior officials to communicate the directives to government employees.

In a letter issued to all relevant police officers, the IGP referred to the high court's order regarding PTI's planned march on the federal capital.

The KP police chief directed officers not to provide any facilitation for the protest and said they must immediately inform him if they received instructions to do so.

The letter warned that disciplinary action would be taken against any police officer found violating the court's directives.

The high court's order came on a petition challenging PTI's planned September 27 nationwide protests and march on Islamabad.

The court ruled that no political party or leader had a lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas or public buildings in a manner that obstructed citizens' access to educational institutions and medical facilities.

Furthermore, the court declared that aggression by a federating unit against another or against the federation in any form or manner, including, by way of any march or procession, is "unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful".

In its 37-page verdict, the IHC stated that the activities of the PTI in May 2022 and November 2024 in Islamabad created a serious security and law and order situation.

The Islamabad administration and the Ministry of Interior were directed to ensure that no one residing within the ICT undertakes any activity which results in offending the rights of other citizens or persons guaranteed under the Constitution.

The major opposition party had announced a nationwide protest, including a march on Islamabad on September 27, demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan and mobilising people for the supremacy of the Constitution.

The Imran Khan-founded party has maintained that it will proceed with its planned protest, with preparations for the mobilisation continuing across the country.