‘Why have you shut down the entire city’, court asks of Pakistan’s interior secretary

After two days of unrest in the federal capital, a high court in Pakistan ordered the federal government on Saturday to provide proper space to the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its protest.

Hearing the PTI’s plea challenging the denial of permission to hold a protest in the capital, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the government to clear roads and provide the protestors with a proper space for their demonstration.

Islamabad remained under complete lockdown with all entry and exit points to the city as well as routes to the Red Zone, blocked with reinforced container walls to stop jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s supporters from entering it.

The ex-PM had called on all his party workers to stage a protest at D-Chowk, situated in the Red Zone. The party demands Imran’s release from prison and has warned the government from passing its proposed constitutional amendments and legal reforms.

‘City looks like it is in state of war’

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq questioned the federal government’s decision to lock down the city.

“Why have you shut down the entire city?” he asked during the hearing, addressing Interior Secretary Khurram Ali Agha.

Agha cited the recent visit of the Malaysian Prime Minister and the arrival of an important Saudi delegation in the coming days as reasons for the heightened security. Additionally, he mentioned the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, scheduled for October 15-17, as a significant event for Pakistan, adding that the city’s closure was necessary for security.

Despite these explanations, CJ Farooq remained critical of the government’s approach, emphasizing that it must ensure equal rights for all citizens. “You are the government, and your job is to ensure equal rights for everyone,” he stated, pointing out that the current measures were excessive and disproportionately affected the citizens.

Regarding the ongoing protests, the chief justice remarked, “No one has the right to gather in the middle of the road and block my way,” and instructed the government to provide protesters with a designated area for their demonstrations. He affirmed that protesting is a fundamental right but urged the authorities to manage it responsibly.

As protests escalated in Islamabad, the IHC CJ expressed concern over the overall state of the city. “The city looks as if it is in a state of war,” he observed, noting that mobile services had been suspended, preventing citizens from reaching out in emergencies. He directed the authorities to clear the city and restore normalcy, saying, “Take appropriate steps and clear Islamabad.”

The Chief Justice also warned the Ministry of Interior about the potential negative impact of such a lockdown on visiting foreign delegations. “If any untoward incident happens while foreign delegations are in Pakistan, the Ministry of Interior will be responsible,” he cautioned.

The court also touched on the army’s deployment in the capital, with CJ Farooq questioning whether armed forces were assisting civil authorities. He further instructed that the implementation of Section 144—currently enforced in Islamabad—be ensured.

The interior secretary noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had resisted efforts to stop him from entering the capital and was arriving with “heavy government machinery.”

He also revealed that many government vehicles had been damaged or set on fire amid the protests. In response, Chief Justice Farooq reiterated the need for balance, stating, “The protesters are also citizens of Pakistan; their safety must also be ensured.”

The hearing concluded with the chief justice reminding the government that restoring peace in Islamabad was their responsibility and warning of the negative image the current situation could project to the international community.