Islamabad heightens security amid PTI protest call

ISLAMABAD: In light of a protest announcement from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), security has been heightened at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) through additional police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) deployments.

The PTI announced a protest for today in solidarity with the judiciary, so the city took steps to secure not only the IHC but also several strategic sites across the city and surrounding areas.

The protest comes amid growing frustration within PTI ranks over delays in the hearing of a case involving the suspension of sentences handed to PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the £190 million National Accountability Bureau (NAB) case.

The leaders have assured that the party leadership will approach the High Court again today in their ongoing request for an accelerated hearing at the High Court.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa‘s Information adviser, Barrister Saif, confirmed a large demonstration will occur outside the Islamabad High Court, with all opposition invited to secure a united opposition against inertia in the judiciary.

In a statement, Barrister Saif called for the repeal of 26th Amendment of the Constitution, saying that it has crippled the judicial system. “The 26th Amendment has chained the judiciary. The delay of justice is the denial of justice“, he said.  

 He also alleged that the fact that the court is continuously delaying hearings shows that the cases against Imran Khan are politically motivated.

“If the cases had any merit, they would not be delayed. The aim is clear, to keep Imran Khan behind bars,“ he said.    “Imran Khan haunts the illegitimate government.

His release will end their survival“.    The PTI protest will be significant, especially considering the tensions between the opposition and the government regarding alleged political victimisation and positive interference with the judiciary.