Islamabad bans rallies before PTI march for Imran Khan's release

Islamabad has banned public gatherings for two months before PTI's planned march on September 27. The move signals a wider security clampdown as authorities brace for protests over Imran Khan's detention.

In Short

• Section 144 bars gatherings, rallies and demonstrations across the federal capital
• The order covers the Red Zone and remains effective for two months
• Punjab sought Rangers deployment in key districts to support policing operations

Pakistani authorities have banned public gatherings in Islamabad for two months ahead of a march planned by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the capital on September 27. The move comes as officials step up security measures in Islamabad and neighbouring Rawalpindi before the planned protests.

The Islamabad administration said Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code had been imposed across the federal capital, including the high-security Red Zone, barring gatherings of five or more people, processions, rallies and demonstrations. It also said such gatherings were prohibited under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024, and warned that violations could lead to legal action.

The latest development comes after Islamabad Additional District Magistrate Anam Fatima issued an order on September 18 saying Section 144 had been enforced with immediate effect and “shall remain in force for a period of two months”. Khan’s party is preparing for a long march to Islamabad mainly to demand the release of the party founder, who has been in jail in connection with multiple cases since 2023.

Leaders of Khan’s PTI said the protest would also seek constitutional supremacy and the rule of law. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Monday that the party would announce its detailed protest plan on September 25 and mobilise workers across the country.

The Punjab government has separately imposed Section 144 across the province and sought the deployment of Rangers in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali to help police maintain law and order before the march. Authorities have also sought restrictions on mobile and internet services at specific locations in Rawalpindi and Attock on September 27 and are preparing security arrangements to stop protesters from entering the capital.

The Islamabad High Court on September 14 ruled that no political party or public office holder could block roads in the capital or use government personnel and resources for political protests. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has urged the party’s leaders to reconsider the march. Meanwhile, Kissan Ittehad, a farmers’ group, has also announced a march on Islamabad over its demands, including relief from rising agricultural input costs. Overall, the administration has tightened restrictions and security arrangements in and around Islamabad ahead of the planned demonstrations.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends