Pakistan court orders authorities to block Khan-led party protest violating peaceful assembly law

A Pakistani court on Thursday ruled that no protests, rallies, or sit-ins would be allowed in the federal capital without compliance with the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024, which mandates a written application at least seven days in advance.

The order followed the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) observation that the largest opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had not submitted the required application for its planned November 24 protest. The court also highlighted the sensitive timing, coinciding with a scheduled visit by the Belarusian President and a 60-member delegation on the same day.

The IHC directed the Interior Ministry to form a committee, preferably led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, to engage with PTI leadership regarding the protest.

The court set the next hearing for November 27 and instructed authorities to submit a report on their engagement efforts with PTI.

Business leaders urge end to protests

The hearing was prompted by a petition from business leaders in Pakistan's capital seeking to block planned street protests by the country's main opposition party PTI, which was ousted from power in 2022.

Asad Aziz, president of Jinnah Supermarket, filed the petition in IHC, requesting authorities prevent PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and party workers from conducting what he termed "illegal protests."

The petition names several high-ranking officials as respondents, including the Interior Ministry, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, District Magistrate, and the capital's police chief, alongside Barrister Gohar.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq promptly scheduled a hearing on the petition Thursday 4 p.m., summoning the Interior Minister, Interior Secretary, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, and Inspector General of Islamabad Police.

During initial proceedings, the petitioner's lawyer Raja Rizwan Abbasi argued that Islamabad faces disruptions "every day" due to PTI's actions.

Chief Justice Farooq noted he had previously issued orders regarding protests in the capital.

'Containers, internet shutdowns not solution'

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq criticized the government's heavy-handed approach to political demonstrations on Thursday, emphasizing that "containers and internet shutdowns are not the solution".

"What is the fault of ordinary citizens?" Farooq asked during the proceedings, urging authorities to negotiate with PTI.

"Can't you engage with PTI? This can't be handled through containers alone," the chief justice emphasized.

Minister Naqvi painted a complex security picture. "A 65-member delegation from Belarus, including their president, is arriving on November 24," Naqvi explained.

"Such situations damage our country's image internationally," he said, adding that previous protests had turned violent, resulting in casualties. "We lost one of our men last time, and a police officer was martyred," Naqvi told the court.

He expressed personal reservations about the use of shipping containers as barriers, saying "I'm personally not in favor of using containers, but we have to deploy them every other day."

The ministry faces difficult decisions about resource allocation, particularly regarding the Frontier Constabulary deployment.

"We don't prevent protests, but they should be held in their own areas," Naqvi emphasized. "Why must they come to Islamabad for every protest?" He added that PTI has yet to submit any formal request for the planned demonstration.

Chief Justice Farooq, acknowledging the complex situation, told Naqvi, "You are the key man here. You have to decide what needs to be done."

The petitioner's lawyer argued that "a provincial chief minister is leading an invasion of Islamabad," highlighting the unusual nature of the situation.

The court concluded the hearing with plans to issue written orders.

Following the Advocate General's request for notices to be issued to PTI, the court adjourned with a reminder to the Interior Minister about his responsibility to maintain law and order.

Parallel challenge in Peshawar

In a separate development, petitioners in the Peshawar High Court also sought to halt PTI's November 24 protests, specifically challenging the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's alleged misuse of state resources.

The petition argues that voters elected the PTI-led provincial government for peace and welfare, not to finance and encourage protests.

Mounting tensions

These legal challenges emerge amid heightened restrictions in Islamabad, where authorities extended Section 144, colonial-era law that prohibits public assemblies of five or more people, on November 18.

The law was extended for two months following PTI's announcement of nationwide protests planned for November 24.

The restrictions particularly affect the capital's Red Zone, home to government buildings and diplomatic missions.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, PTI's founder, remains in custody. While his lawyer Faisal Chaudhry maintains Khan faces no cases under Adiala Jail's jurisdiction, police officials cite 15 to 20 pending cases, where the former premier has yet to secure bail.