IHC bars any march on Islamabad: what it means for 23, 24 and 27 September

The Islamabad High Court has ruled that no political party has a lawful right to occupy public roads, highways or buildings, nine days before PTI's announced march on the capital. The 37-page verdict was delivered by Chief Justice Sardar Sarfaraz Dogar sitting with Justice Azam Khan and Justice Muhammad Asif.

The march is announced for 27 September. A separate Jamaat-e-Islami long march is due to reach Islamabad on 23 and 24 September. Both fall inside the same week.

What the court actually ordered

The petition was filed by a local trader, Waqas Ahmed, who argued that a march on the capital would cut across his right to movement, business and property. The court agreed that protest is constitutionally protected but held that besieging the federal capital, or suspending other citizens' rights in the process, is not a constitutional right.

It then directed provincial chief secretaries, provincial police chiefs, the federal interior secretary, the chief commissioner and the Islamabad IG to refuse compliance with any order that facilitates a march on Islamabad, and to prevent participation in a march intended to obstruct movement, commerce, or access to hospitals, schools, courts or property.

The line that will matter most in practice is aimed at officials, not marchers:

Any public office holder, who undertakes any activity which results in violation of fundamental rights of the citizens within the ICT, shall be deemed to have violated the Constitution and his/her oath of office.

The judgment names no designated protest site.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has already told its staff no

The KP chief secretary issued an office memorandum on Friday banning the use of government vehicles, machinery, equipment, public funds and officials to support the march or any associated procession. No government employee is to be made to take part, and anyone asked to must notify the chief secretary or the provincial police chief at once. Breaches go to departmental disciplinary action.

That is significant because KP is the province PTI governs, and past marches on Islamabad have moved down the Motorway from Peshawar with provincial logistics behind them.

What the interior minister said

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government would stop a march "in every possible way" and that organisers would be held responsible for any loss of life.

If someone comes out after the court's decision, we will first initiate contempt of court proceedings. Otherwise, we will not allow anyone to come out.

Provinces have been directed to stop protesters entering Islamabad, and law enforcement has been cleared to place containers where needed.

PTI's Faisal Karim Kundi, on the other side, said the march will not secure the release of the party's founder.

What it means if you live or work in the twin cities

Nothing has been notified yet in the way of road closures, Section 144 orders or metro suspensions, and we will not report any until they are. What is known is the pattern from previous marches on the capital: container placement on the Srinagar Highway, the Islamabad Expressway and the GT Road approaches, suspension of the Rawalpindi to Islamabad Metro Bus, and school closures announced at short notice.

If you have a NADRA appointment, a court date, a passport office slot, an exam or a hospital appointment in Islamabad on 23, 24 or 27 September, it is worth moving it now rather than on the day. Travellers to Islamabad airport should build in extra time on those dates and check for an alternative route through the Motorway interchange.

We will publish notified closures as they are issued.

The economic backdrop

Both marches are being framed around cost of living. JI's Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has attacked the petroleum levy, which he puts at Rs 135 a litre, against a fuel relief package he says is worth about Rs 25 billion. Petrol falls to Rs 389.14 a litre from midnight tonight. Our running account of the relief scheme, including who qualifies and how to register, is here.