TERENCE J SIGAMONY

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court ruled that no political party or public office holder has the lawful authority to block roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas and buildings in the federal capital.

The IHC bench also directed the chief ministers of all provinces to ensure that no government resources or official machinery are used for political gatherings.

A larger bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and comprising Justice Azam Khan and Justice Muhammad Asif, on Monday disposed of a petition against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned long march and protest in the federal capital on September 27.

The directions were issued after hearing arguments from the Advocate General Islamabad and the Prosecutor General Islamabad, and affidavits submitted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police, confirming that provincial resources would not be employed for the planned demonstration.

The court said that the chief ministers must ensure that public funds or government officials are not used for any protest, and official vehicles, machinery or other government equipment must not be used to facilitate any march, procession or rally. It added that moreover, no public servant should be compelled to participate in any march, procession or rally, the court ruled. It further said that any person, public office holder who undertook any activity against these instructions should be deemed to have violated the Constitution.

The court directed the Islamabad administration and the interior ministry to ensure protection of citizens’ constitutional rights, and the chief secretaries and provincial police chiefs to ensure implementation of court directives. The interior secretary and Islamabad chief commissioner and inspector general were directed to ensure compliance with court orders.

Earlier, the bench had reserved its verdict on the plea after the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief assured the court that no “illegal or unconstitutional activities” would be allowed in connection with the protest.

At one point during the hearing, Chief Justice Dogar recalled that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General (AG) Shah Faisal Utmankhel had stated during the previous hearing that notices had been issued to provincial authorities for judicial assistance.