PTI Pushes Ahead With Protests as Section 144 Tightens Grip on Twin Cities
PTI is pushing ahead with planned protests at the IHC and Adiala Jail despite Section 144 restrictions, heightening tensions with authorities in both cities.
Ayesha Mir
With its founder Imran Khan still barred from meeting party leaders and family members, the PTI on Tuesday doubled down on its decision to stage protests in the federal capital and Rawalpindi, despite a blanket ban on assemblies under Section 144.
PTI leader Asad Qaiser said opposition lawmakers from both houses would first gather outside the Islamabad High Court before marching toward Adiala Jail. “The IHC has not been able to enforce its own order, and the jail administration is refusing to comply,” he said, adding that the party’s parliamentary committee also demanded Imran Khan’s release, calling the repeated denial of visitation rights a violation of basic human rights.
The PTI’s frustration has mounted in recent weeks after the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister was repeatedly denied access to the jailed former prime minister, prompting an hours-long sit-in last week outside Adiala Jail.
Section 144 Enforced Amid ‘Imminent Threats’
Authorities in both cities have tightened controls ahead of the scheduled protests. A notification issued by the Islamabad district magistrate on November 18 imposed Section 144 for two months, citing intelligence reports about groups planning unlawful assemblies. The order bars gatherings of five or more people, rallies, and demonstrations across the capital, including the sensitive Red Zone until January 18, 2026.
Rawalpindi’s administration followed suit on Monday, imposing a three-day ban from December 1 to 3 after the District Intelligence Committee warned of “imminent threats” around key installations and major roads. Officials claimed certain groups were mobilising for disruptive actions that could jeopardise public safety.
KP Lawmakers Directed to Join Demonstrations
Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has instructed all provincial assembly members to reach Islamabad in solidarity with the planned demonstrations. His directive came days after his own 15-hour sit-in failed to secure a meeting with Imran Khan—the eighth refusal he has faced as chief minister.
As the standoff deepens and Section 144 remains firmly in place, the coming days are expected to test both administrative resolve and PTI’s commitment to its protest drive.
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