ISLAMABAD: On Friday, the Islamabad High Court reserved its judgment on a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf seeking permission to hold a protest in Islamabad.
The petition was prompted by the capital authorities’ decision to deny the party’s request to stage the protest on July 26.
The hearing, presided over by Justice Saman Rifat, addressed PTI’s appeal after the federal capital’s administration barred all political parties from organizing protest rallies, citing security concerns.
State counsel informed the court that the administration had rejected similar requests from other parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, which plans a sit-in at D-Chowk, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, which has called for a protest rally. The PTI had also sought permission to protest at the Press Club but was similarly denied.
Advocate General Islamabad, Ayaz Shaukat, stated that no permissions were granted due to the current security situation, and noted that Islamabad had effectively been shut down.
PTI’s counsel, Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, argued for permission to hold the protest at F-9 Park, pointing out that the IHC had previously directed the administration to permit the rally. However, Shaukat had indicated that permission could not be granted if JI’s sit-in extended.
During the proceedings, Justice Rifat criticized the advocate general for presenting himself as “helpless,” questioning the impression this might create internationally.
In response, Shaukat emphasized the difficulty of managing internal political disputes, while asserting that the administration could not approve the protest.
Justice Rifat instructed Shaukat to either grant the permit or face a court order reflecting the administration’s inability to manage the situation. Despite this, Shaukat maintained that the administration could not permit the protest, leaving the court to deliberate further.
