{
  "id": 6585727,
  "title": "'Is judiciary so weak that you wish to strengthen it?' IHC CJ asks as KP counsel justifies PTI’s Sept 27 march",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/is-judiciary-so-weak-that-you-wish-to-strengthen-it-ihc-cj-asks-as-kp-6585727",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-10T12:34:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2028870/is-judiciary-so-weak-that-you-wish-to-strengthen-it-ihc-cj-asks-as-kp-counsel-justifies-ptis-sept-27-march"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar expressed skepticism on Thursday when KP Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel argued that the PTI's planned September 27 protest in support of Imran Khan also aimed to bolster the judiciary. The IHC later formed a larger bench to handle the case, acknowledging the sensitive nature of the issue. Utmankhel contended that the protest would also rally support for the judiciary, to which the chief justice sarcastically remarked, \"Thank you very much for wanting to strengthen the judiciary.\"\n\nThe attorney general for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, argued that government machinery should not be used for political protests, stating that no government officer should comply with orders contrary to the Constitution and law. However, he noted that it would be difficult for an officer to refuse an order issued by the chief executive of a province, referencing KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who is a member of the PTI. Awan stated that state resources couldn't be employed for political activities, even if the protest was peaceful.\n\nThe chief justice questioned whether KP's chief secretary and inspector general of police would be bound by an IHC order from 2024. According to Awan, they were indeed obligated to implement such an order. He also stated that prior PTI protests, including one in 2024 that barred the party from holding any rallies, had been carried out despite the chief minister leading the demonstration. The 2024 order had come days before the party's planned power show, leading to clashes between security forces and protesters in Islamabad's Red Zone, resulting in the PTI leadership's hasty retreat.\n\nThe bench then summoned Utmankhel to explain his province's position. Utmankhel claimed he had only received the notice a day prior and was unaware of the petition's contents, objecting to its maintainability, arguing that the matter was premature. The chief justice directed him to respond after hearing Awan's submissions. Utmankhel maintained that orders from superior courts were not consistently followed in the past and objected to the comparison between the proposed protest and an \"attack.\" He questioned why the long march was seen as an attack and referred to previous IHC orders directing meetings between Imran and his family and party leadership, which had not been complied with, leading to multiple contempt petitions. He requested two days to prepare his arguments, which were denied, and the chief justice instructed him to begin his case at the next hearing.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar on Thursday admonished Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel after he described PTI’s September 27 protest call as a move in support of the judiciary. The PTI has announced a nationwide protest on Sept 27 to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan and mobilise people for the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "'Is judiciary so weak that you wish to strengthen it?' IHC CJ asks as KP counsel justifies PTI’s Sept 27 march",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/is-judiciary-so-weak-that-you-wish-to-strengthen-it-ihc-cj-asks-as-kp",
        "published": "2026-09-10T12:12:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}