Islamabad, September 18, 2026: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that no political party, leader, provincial government or public office-holder has the lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas or buildings in connection with political marches or processions.
The 37-page detailed judgment was issued by a larger bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and comprising Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Muhammad Asif.
The ruling came on a petition filed by citizen Waqas Ahmed challenging the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) proposed long march to Islamabad on September 27.
The court said no political party or public office-holder could obstruct or hinder the free movement of citizens, trade and business activities, or access to medical facilities and educational institutions in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
It further ruled that any person or entity whose activities result in the violation of citizens’ fundamental rights in the federal capital would be considered to have violated the Constitution and would face consequences under the law.
The IHC also declared that aggression by one federating unit against another or against the federation, including through a march, rally or procession, was “unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful”.
It said any person, authority or government organising, participating in or promoting such activities would be liable to consequences prescribed under the Constitution and law.
The court noted that PTI activities in Islamabad in May 2022 and November 2024 had created serious security and law-and-order situations.
In view of the proposed September 27 march, the court directed all provincial governments and chief ministers to ensure that no official vehicles, machinery or other government equipment was used to facilitate participants travelling towards Islamabad.
The provincial governments were also directed to ensure that no public servant was compelled to participate in any march towards the federal capital.
The court further directed the Islamabad administration and the Ministry of Interior to ensure that no person residing in the ICT undertook activities that violated the constitutional rights of other citizens.
