KP police chief warns disciplinary action would be taken against any police officer found violating IHC directives

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.

The directive was issued in light of an Islamabad High Court (IHC) order concerning the planned protest and march on the federal capital.

On September 14, the IHC directed provincial governments not to use state funds, personnel, vehicles, machinery or other official resources for protests and rallies.

The court also barred provincial authorities from forcing government employees to participate in political activities and directed senior officials to communicate the orders to public servants.

In a letter sent to relevant police officers, the KP police chief referred to the IHC’s ruling and instructed them not to provide any facilitation for the planned protest.

The IGP further directed officers to immediately inform him if they received any instructions to facilitate the march.

The letter warned that disciplinary action would be taken against police officers found violating the court’s directives.

The IHC order was issued on a petition challenging PTI’s planned nationwide protests and march on Islamabad on September 27.

According to the court’s 37-page verdict, no political party or leader has a lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas or public buildings in a way that prevents citizens from accessing educational institutions and medical facilities.

The court also observed that aggression by one federating unit against another or against the federation, including through a march or procession, is “unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful”.

The verdict also referred to PTI activities in Islamabad in May 2022 and November 2024, saying they had created serious security and law-and-order situations.

The Islamabad administration and Ministry of Interior were directed to ensure that activities in the federal capital do not violate the constitutional rights of other citizens.

PTI has announced a nationwide protest for September 27, including a march on Islamabad, demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan and calling for what it describes as the supremacy of the Constitution.

The party has maintained that it will go ahead with the planned protest, while preparations for mobilisation continue across the country.