KP police told not to facilitate Islamabad-bound march amid IHC directives

The proposed Islamabad long march has entered a critical phase after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed

PESHAWAR: The proposed Islamabad long march has entered a critical phase after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed directed police officers across the province not to provide assistance or facilitation to any march, rally or procession heading towards the federal capital.

The directive comes ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned September 27 protest and follows directions issued by the Islamabad High Court regarding the use of government resources and the maintenance of public order.

According to the instructions issued by the KP police chief, officers have been directed to ensure compliance with the court’s orders and immediately report to the IGP if they receive any instructions to facilitate participants travelling towards Islamabad.

The directive also makes clear that official police resources cannot be used to support political activities in violation of the court’s directions. Officers found breaching the instructions may face departmental or disciplinary action.

The development follows the Islamabad High Court’s September 14 directions requiring provincial governments to ensure that public funds, government personnel, official vehicles, machinery and other state resources are not used for political rallies or marches. The court also directed authorities not to compel government employees to participate in political activities.

The court’s proceedings had specifically involved KP IGP Zulfiqar Hameed, who appeared before the bench and submitted an affidavit regarding the proposed protest. During the hearing, the court sought assurances that unlawful or unconstitutional activities would not be permitted. The IGP assured the bench that police would act against illegal activity if it occurred.

The court has also addressed the issue of public roads, highways and other infrastructure, holding that political activities cannot be conducted in a manner that unlawfully obstructs citizens’ movement or access to educational institutions, medical facilities, businesses and other essential services.

Earlier, the KP chief secretary had issued similar instructions to government officials, directing them not to facilitate marches or rallies or use official resources for such political activities. Officials violating the instructions could face departmental action.

The latest police directive places the KP administration and police leadership in a position where they will have to balance enforcement of court directions with the handling of a politically significant mobilisation originating from the province.

The PTI has announced nationwide protests and a march towards Islamabad on September 27, with the party demanding the release of its founder Imran Khan and calling for the supremacy of the Constitution. The party has maintained that preparations for the planned mobilisation will continue.

For the KP police, the immediate challenge is therefore clear: government machinery and official resources cannot be deployed to facilitate the march, while any unlawful activity or obstruction of public rights will have to be dealt with under the applicable law and court directions.

With preparations for the September 27 mobilisation continuing, the latest directive from the KP police chief signals that Islamabad-bound political activity will face close scrutiny from provincial authorities in the days ahead.