Court hearings suspended amid tight security in Islamabad

Court hearings suspended amid tight security in Islamabad

Authorities in Islamabad suspended court proceedings on Monday due to heightened security arrangements and widespread road closures linked to the visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Pakistan.

The Federal Constitutional Court announced the cancellation of all scheduled hearings for the day. Court officials issued a formal notification withdrawing the entire cause list after considering the difficulties faced by litigants and lawyers in reaching the court premises.

Security agencies imposed strict measures across the capital, particularly in the Red Zone, where key government buildings and diplomatic missions are located. Several roads remained closed, while traffic diversions caused significant disruptions throughout the city.

The court administration said that many lawyers and petitioners would not be able to attend proceedings because of the restrictions on movement. To avoid inconvenience and ensure fair access to justice, the court decided to suspend all hearings scheduled for the day.

The security arrangements also affected the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The commission postponed its hearings and deferred several cases that had been fixed for Monday.

Among the cases impacted by the postponement was the matter concerning the vacant National Assembly seat linked to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed. The Election Commission removed the case from its daily schedule and announced that it would now hear the matter on June 24.

The visit of the Iranian president prompted authorities to place Islamabad under strict security protocols, resulting in restricted access to several important areas of the city. While officials described the measures as necessary for ensuring the safety of the visiting dignitary and maintaining order, the arrangements temporarily disrupted legal and administrative activities in the federal capital.