Any activity affecting fundamental rights will be considered against Constitution, written verdict against PTI long march

Legal action will be taken against responsible person, PTI has history of ignoring court orders, High Court

Islamabad: Islamabad High Court in the case against PTI's possible long march has declared that any activity affecting the fundamental rights of citizens will be considered a violation of the Constitution, responsible government officials will have to face consequences.

A larger bench of Islamabad High Court comprising Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Azam Khan and Justice Muhammad Asif issued a written verdict on the petition of trader Waqas Ahmed against PTI's possible long march of September 27, a short verdict was issued on September 14.

The court said that political parties have a constitutional right to peaceful assembly and political dissent, citizens also have constitutional rights to life, liberty, dignity, free movement and business, constitutional balance between right to political protest and fundamental rights of citizens is necessary, right of a political party to protest is subject to Constitution and law, question is also to what extent High Court can intervene in the matter of political protest prematurely? Continuity of normal functioning of constitutional institutions in Islamabad is also of fundamental importance, citizens have right to access hospitals, educational institutions and courts.

The court said that Article 15 of the Constitution gives citizens the right to free movement in Pakistan, under Article 16 citizens also have right to peaceful and unarmed assembly, restriction on assembly can be imposed only under law and to reasonable extent in public interest, Article 17 gives citizens right to form associations and unions, restrictions on freedom of assembly can be imposed under law in interest of public order.

The court in the verdict also mentioning violation of PTI's previous assurances said that it is regrettable that assurances and judicial directives continued to be ignored, assurance given in Supreme Court was itself violated by the founding chairman, in November 2024 protest High Court also issued verdict but it was not implemented, case before the court is not based on speculations, political party has history of ignoring court orders and assurances.

The court ruled that in past march, government resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were used for political purposes, as a result of such march protection of fundamental rights of citizens of Islamabad does not remain possible, aggression by any provincial unit against federation in form of march, rally or procession is unconstitutional and illegal.

Islamabad High Court ruled that government funds, vehicles, machinery or government officials cannot be used for any political march towards Islamabad, peaceful protest is constitutional right, armed or march run with government resources does not have constitutional protection. Affecting civic life, business, education and movement to put political pressure on Islamabad does not come under ambit of right to protest, right to long march is subject to law, siege of federal capital or suspension of civic rights is not a constitutional right.

The court disposed of the petition with these directions.