Peshawar, September 19, 2026: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed has directed police officers across the province not to facilitate any march, rally or procession heading towards Islamabad ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned September 27 protest.
In a letter issued to relevant police officers, the IGP referred to the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) directives concerning the planned march and instructed officers not to provide any official assistance or facilitation to the participants. Officers were also directed to immediately inform him if they received instructions to facilitate the protest.
The letter warned that disciplinary action would be taken against any police officer found violating the court’s directives.
The IHC, in its September 14 order, directed provincial governments to ensure that state funds, government personnel, official vehicles, machinery and other resources were not used for political protests or rallies. The court also directed that government employees should not be compelled to participate in political activities.
The court’s order came in response to a petition challenging PTI’s planned nationwide protest and march on Islamabad on September 27. The court held that no political party or leader had a lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas or public buildings in a manner that obstructed citizens’ movement or access to essential services.
In its detailed 37-page judgment, the IHC also addressed the constitutional rights associated with peaceful assembly while stressing that such activities could not infringe upon the fundamental rights of other citizens. The court referred to law-and-order situations during PTI protests in Islamabad in May 2022 and November 2024.
The Islamabad administration and Ministry of Interior were directed to ensure that activities in the federal capital did not infringe upon the rights guaranteed to citizens under the Constitution.
PTI has announced a nationwide protest, including a march on Islamabad on September 27, with the party demanding the release of its founder Imran Khan and calling for the supremacy of the Constitution.
The party has maintained that it will proceed with the planned protest, while preparations for mobilisation continue across the country.
