Sept 27 ‘long march’: PTI criticises ‘IHC’s handling’ of govt plea

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday questioned the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) handling of a government petition concerning the party’s planned September 27 march, alleging that the proceedings were conducted without making the party a respondent.

PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram said the court’s approach raised questions about due process, particularly as the petition directly concerned the party’s planned political activity.

He also criticised what he described as the urgency shown by the court in dealing with the proposed march, contrasting it with delays in implementing orders concerning meetings with the PTI founder and access to Adiala Jail.

Akram said Article 16 of the Constitution guaranteed citizens the right to peaceful assembly and urged the court to take notice of the government’s preparations to restrict movement in Islamabad and Rawalpindi ahead of the march.

According to him, the administration was preparing more than 1,000 containers and taking measures that could include arrests and detention of political workers.

He said such restrictions would affect residents, traders, students and patients in the twin cities.

He also criticised the latest increase in petroleum prices, saying petrol had risen to Rs370.80 per litre and diesel to Rs398.04.

He warned that higher fuel prices would increase transport costs and put further pressure on prices of essential commodities.

He questioned the government’s argument that domestic prices reflected international market rates, pointing to lower fuel prices in neighbouring countries.

He also sought greater transparency over Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) collections and their treatment under the National Finance Commission framework.

Akram also demanded documentary evidence regarding the use of a Punjab government aircraft by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for a trip to London to attend her daughter’s graduation.

Akram rejected Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari’s claim that the chief minister paid for the trip, demanding details of the flight authorisation, reimbursement and rules governing private use of the aircraft.

He said the matter should be examined by the Auditor General or an appropriate legislative committee to establish whether all costs had been reimbursed.

Turning to regional tensions, Akram urged the government to maintain a non-aligned and mediatory position amid developments involving Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, Iran and other regional actors.

He also called for details of the Strategic Defence Agreement to be presented before parliament.

On Khan’s detention, he reiterated allegations that the party founding chairman had been denied adequate medical care and regular access to his personal physicians, family members and lawyers.

He cited an ophthalmological report that, according to him, showed significant vision loss in Khan’s right eye, and demanded that he be examined by his personal doctors in the presence of a family member.

He also demanded the release of Khan and other detained PTI leaders, describing the cases against them as politically motivated.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026