ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief secretary and inspector general of police to provide affidavits regarding a petition against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned long march scheduled for September 27.
During proceedings, the KP Advocate General raised questions about the court’s authority to hear the case, criticizing what he called non-compliance with previous court directives and alleging that certain cases had not been scheduled for hearings.
PTI has announced nationwide protests and a march towards Islamabad to press for the release of its leader, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated. The party plans to mobilize supporters ahead of the march, with PTI leaders engaging in consultations with allies.
Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar questioned whether the court should be involved in fixing case dates, emphasizing that case scheduling is within the court’s administrative powers. The hearing was adjourned until September 14 for further proceedings.
In parallel developments, PTI has called for an all-parties conference to be held before the march and has reached out to political allies, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). A delegation from PTI also visited the residence of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for consultations on opposition strategy and political coordination.
Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan’s government recently led a five-day mobilization campaign across Sindh to garner support for PTI’s demands, including the release of Imran Khan and his access to medical treatment.
Imran Khan, 73, has remained in custody since August 2023 following convictions that his party claims are politically motivated. Since his removal from office in April 2022, he has faced multiple legal cases, with some convictions suspended or overturned and ongoing appeals.
