{
  "id": 10045871,
  "title": "'Protest everyone's right but minus Islamabad': Rana Sanaullah says 'practice' of marches to capital should end",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/protest-everyones-right-but-minus-islamabad-rana-sanaullah-says-10045871",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T18:55:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2032865/protest-everyones-right-but-minus-islamabad-rana-sanaullah-says-practice-of-marches-to-capital-should-end"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, argued on Saturday that while everyone has the right to protest according to the constitution and law, demonstrations should not take place in Islamabad. He urged people to cease staging lengthy marches and protests in the capital. The PTI had been organizing a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad to demand the release of their founder, Imran Khan, who is currently in Adiala jail after being convicted on August 5, 2023. However, Chief Minister Mohammad Faiz Ahmad Faiz announced the march had been postponed to October 4. The Jamaat-i-Islami had also planned a march to Islamabad against the petroleum levy, but it too was postponed at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, pending a meeting. Sanaullah stated that people could protest in other cities like Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Karachi, Peshawar, or Multan, and the practice of organizing marches in Islamabad needed to end. He pointed out that the ban on protests in Islamabad does not apply only to the PTI; gatherings in the capital without prior permission are also prohibited under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024. Sanaullah emphasized that peaceful protest is everyone's right, but it should not involve attacks on Islamabad. He warned that the authorities would not grant permission for protests within Islamabad, especially given the presence of foreign diplomats in the capital, as it could send a \"bad message.\" The PML-N leader accused the PTI of aiming to overthrow the government, alleging that their goal was to \"erect ladders next to the walls of Adiala jail and break in to meet Imran Khan.\" \"How is this peaceful?\" Sanaullah questioned. \"Party leaders have been threatening to overthrow the government or free someone from jail and then go back.\" The Prime Minister's aide clarified that only roads in the Red Zone and the M-1 Motorway have been restricted for traffic in Islamabad, with containers placed only at the corners of the city's roads for safety reasons. He stressed that no roads have been closed with these containers, clarifying that the situation in Islamabad is not as described in the media. The Prime Minister's aide also mentioned that the PTI had not submitted any application to the Islamabad administration for permission to hold a gathering nor provided them with their expected time and duration. When asked if the authorities' response to any march would be similar to the crackdown on the PTI's 'Final Call' protest on November 26, 2024, Sanaullah did not want to comment further, as there were fellow Pakistanis, friends, and colleagues in the party. However, he warned that PTI should not hold any march that could push back law enforcement and move towards D-Chowk, as such an action would provide authorities with legal backing to respond.",
  "summary": "Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah contended on Saturday that everyone had a constitutional and legal right to protest, but Islamabad should be off-limits for demonstrations and urged people to “end the practice” of staging long marches and protests in the federal capital. PTI had been gearing up for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad to press for the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "'Protest everyone's right but minus Islamabad': Rana Sanaullah says 'practice' of marches to capital should end",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/protest-everyones-right-but-minus-islamabad-rana-sanaullah-says",
        "published": "2026-09-26T18:55:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}