IHC says judiciary needs no political crutches

Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar recently stated that the judiciary does not require any assistance from political parties. While presiding over a hearing on a petition to halt a PTI-led march on September 27, the three-judge bench consisting of Dogar and Justices Muhammad Azam Khan and Muhammad Asif listened to a case brought forth by Waqas Ahmed against the party's proposed demonstration.

The administration's representatives, including the Attorney General for Pakistan Usman Mansoor Awan and the advocate generals and police chiefs from all four provinces, made their presence known at the court as mandated by the judge. The Attorney General contended that courts have the authority to direct executive authorities in safeguarding citizens' fundamental rights within their purview.

He pointed out that a Supreme Court assurance made in May 2022 had not yet been fulfilled, and an IHC order issued in 2024 had been breached as well. Awan proposed that the court should order provincial police chiefs and chief secretaries to uphold the law and order, ensuring compliance with the Constitution, suggesting that the police officers were part of the Police Service of Pakistan and not specific to any province.

Awan also suggested that the PTI might be gearing up for a larger-scale march compared to previous instances, with the K-P chief minister potentially playing a role. He reminded the court of the 31 police personnel who sustained injuries during the May 2022 protests, leading to the deployment of the army under Article 245 of the Constitution. The Chief Justice then inquired about the perspective of the K-P advocate general on the petition.