IHC order: KP bars use of state resources for marches towards Islamabad

Chief Secretary KP Shahab Ali Shah issued an Office Memorandum dated September 18, 2026, directing administrative departments and

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has directed all provincial officials to comply with an Islamabad High Court order prohibiting the use of government resources and public servants to facilitate marches, rallies or processions heading towards the Islamabad Capital Territory.

Chief Secretary KP Shahab Ali Shah issued an Office Memorandum dated September 18, 2026, directing administrative departments and field officers to implement the directions contained in the Islamabad High Court’s September 14 order in W.P. No. 4421/2026.

Under the memorandum, government officials have been instructed not to comply with any direction requiring them to assist or facilitate a march, rally or procession towards Islamabad where such assistance would fall within the restrictions laid down by the court.

Officials who face pressure or coercion to provide such assistance have been directed to immediately inform the Chief Secretary or the Inspector General of Police, KP. The provincial government has also established a dedicated helpline at 091-9210068 for officials to report alleged coercion or inducement.

The directions further state that officials should not permit participation in activities where the purpose or consequence is to obstruct or hinder lawful movement, trade, business, access to educational institutions, medical facilities or the peaceful use of property in Islamabad.

The memorandum warns that departmental action may be taken against officials found violating the court’s directions or the instructions issued by the provincial government.

The Islamabad High Court’s order also directs that government resources, public funds and government officials are not to be used, directly or indirectly, to facilitate marches, rallies or processions towards the Islamabad Capital Territory. The restrictions extend to official vehicles, machinery and other government equipment.

The court has further directed that no public servant should be compelled, coerced or induced to participate in such activities.

The KP government has circulated the directions among administrative secretaries, heads of departments, divisional commissioners, regional police officers, deputy commissioners, district police officers and heads of attached departments, autonomous bodies and local government institutions.

Copies of the memorandum have also been forwarded to the Registrar of the Islamabad High Court and the Inspector General of Police KP for necessary action and compliance.

The development places the provincial administrative machinery under formal instructions to ensure that public resources and government personnel are not used in violation of the court’s directions concerning political marches and processions towards the federal capital.