Rana Sanaullah says peaceful protest is a constitutional right but argues that political parties should avoid demonstrations and long marches in Islamabad.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said peaceful protest is a constitutional and legal right but political parties should avoid holding demonstrations and long marches in Islamabad.
Speaking in a televised programme on Saturday, Sanaullah said political parties could stage protests in other cities but argued that the practice of bringing long marches to the federal capital should end.
His remarks came as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had been preparing for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan. The party has since postponed the planned march until Oct. 4.
Jamaat-e-Islami had also planned a march towards Islamabad against the petroleum levy but postponed the protest after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requested additional time for talks.
Sanaullah said restrictions on demonstrations in Islamabad were not specifically directed at PTI. He referred to the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024, under which gatherings in the capital require prior permission.
He said peaceful demonstrations remained a legal right but authorities would not allow protesters to move toward sensitive areas or attack law-enforcement personnel. He also cited the presence of foreign diplomats in Islamabad, saying protests in the capital could create an undesirable situation.
The PML-N leader accused PTI of seeking to pressure the government and attempting to reach Imran Khan at Adiala jail. He questioned whether a march involving attempts to breach security barriers could be considered peaceful.
Sanaullah said permission for a long march would not be granted if authorities believed its objective was to use force or enter restricted areas. He advised PTI to approach the Islamabad High Court and provide necessary assurances if it wanted to hold a gathering.
He also rejected reports that Islamabad’s roads had been completely blocked. According to him, containers had been positioned at various points for use if required, while roads outside restricted areas remained open.
The adviser said PTI had not submitted a formal request to the Islamabad administration for permission to hold a gathering or provided details about its timing and duration.
He also referred to the Islamabad High Court’s Sept. 14 ruling, which stated that political parties and their leadership did not have a lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas or government buildings in the capital.
Meanwhile, security preparations remain in place in Islamabad and Rawalpindi despite the postponement of the PTI march.
Punjab has imposed restrictions on gatherings across the province until Oct. 5, while Section 144 has also been enforced in Islamabad for two months.
The federal government has approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and several Punjab districts from Sept. 20 to Oct. 5 as part of security arrangements.
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