IHC refuses time to KP AG to prepare for PTI’s Sept 27 long march case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday rejected the request made by the advocate general (AG) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) that he needed two days to prepare the case related to the PTI’s proposed long march on Islamabad on September 27, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The court again summoned the inspectors general of police of the four provinces, chief secretaries and other officers tomorrow.

Speaking during the hearing, the Attorney-General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan said that despite giving an assurance to the Supreme Court in May 2022, PTI flouted the apex court orders. “Two years later, in November 2024, the party went against clear instructions from the IHC. These two bitter experiences have taught us a lot.”    

Then he read out the verdict the apex court had given in 2022. 

“In 2022, the former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan gave a call to the party workers to reach Islamabad’s D-Chowk,” he added. 

Awan alleged that the PTI workers damaged private properties during their protest. “Islamabad’s Blue Area’s green belt was set ablaze.”

Then the AGP read out the statement given by Imran Khan in 2022 in which he had asked the party workers to throng the D-Chowk.

He said there were reports that this time, the PTI was far more well-prepared than before as suggested by the statement given by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

Some very responsible PTI office-bearers, the AGP went on to say, had said they would lay siege to the federal capital. “Such statements cannot be ignored,” he asserted.

Awan prayed to the court to make it binding on all IGPs and chief secretaries to remain loyal to the country by not allowing the PTI workers to disrupt the law-and-order situation.

He sought the court’s order to all IGPs to follow the constitution. 

The AGP said it was the constitutional duty of the court to make it mandatory for the provincial governments that they would not allow such activities that could disrupt routine life of citizens. 

He said that the state resources could not be used for a protest, even it was peaceful. “Government officers cannot be asked to participate in protests and sit-ins,” Awan added. 

Later, the court adjourned the case’s hearing until tomorrow.

Reporter: Ihtesham Kiani