IHC bars harassment, arrest of PTI leaders ahead of September 27 long march

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday restrained authorities from harassing or arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Islamabad leaders Malik Amir Ali, Shoaib Shaheen and others ahead of the September 27 long march. Justice Raja Inam Ameen Minhas heard the case filed by Ali, Shaheen and others against their alleged harassment. Advocate Shaheen and Advocate Riasat Azad appeared before the court on behalf of the petitioners. Shaheen told the court that “arrests and raids have started again ahead of the long march”. He said raids were being conducted at the homes of PTI workers and alleged that belongings and money were being taken during the searches. “I am myself a patient and my family is also being harassed,” Shaheen said, adding that women, children and girls were being taken away from their homes during raids. Shaheen said the petitioners could provide affidavits and CCTV footage in support of their claims. He requested the court to restrain the authorities from harassing and arresting the PTI leaders and to fix the case for hearing the following week. Read: 'Shut Karachi for a week, they will hold your feet': CM Afridi urges people to join September 27 protest Justice Minhas said the court could summon the Islamabad SSP Operations in person and question him, while also passing an order in the matter. The court summoned Islamabad SSP Operations in person and ordered that the PTI leaders be restrained from harassment and arrest, adjourning the hearing. PTI gears up for September 27 The PTI announced the September 27 Islamabad march to press for the release of Imran Khan. The party had been preparing a central convoy from K-P, with caravans from other parts of the country expected to join before proceeding towards the federal capital. Under a preliminary strategy announced in August, the party planned to bring workers from across the country to K-P at least five days before the march. The main convoy was expected to remain at the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border for two to three days before moving towards Islamabad once other caravans had assembled. The PTI had also planned protests and shutdowns in several major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Hyderabad and Quetta, as well as demonstrations along important national highways. The PTI’s August plan also included a funding and mobilisation structure for the protest. A committee headed by party Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja was tasked with overseeing finances, while lawmakers were directed to mobilise supporters in their constituencies. The party had estimated that the first day of the march would cost around Rs450 million, with subsequent days expected to cost approximately Rs14.5 million each. It had also sought financial contributions from lawmakers and party figures to fund the campaign.