The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s announcement of a march on Islamabad scheduled for September 27 has already stirred legal and political ripples. A petition filed in the Islamabad High Court by a trader from the capital argues that such a protest would disrupt routine life and business activity. Recognising the sensitivity of the matter, the court has constituted a larger bench to hear the case, with proceedings set to continue tomorrow. This reflects the unease within state institutions over PTI’s planned demonstration, which the party insists is being organised to uphold the Constitution and demand the release of its founder, Imran Khan.
The government’s apprehensions were visible in Karachi last Sunday, when major roads were closed as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi prepared to address a rally at the Quaid’s mausoleum. Authorities claimed the closures were for security reasons, but the timing coincided with PTI’s planned activities, fuelling speculation that the measures were intended to curtail the party’s mobilisation. The state fears that allowing the Islamabad rally to proceed could lead to violence, a concern rooted in the deadly confrontation during PTI’s protest in November 2024.
Yet two principles must be clearly acknowledged. The first is that peaceful protest is a democratic right. Denying citizens and political parties the ability to express grievances risks deepening frustration and radicalising those who feel excluded from the political process. The second is that protest must remain non-violent. Attacks on law enforcement or harassment of ordinary citizens cannot be tolerated, and it is the responsibility of party leaders to ensure discipline among their supporters.
The PTI is not alone in taking grievances to the streets. The Jamaat-i-Islami has been staging nationwide sit-ins against rising fuel prices for weeks. Whether one agrees with the reasons behind these demonstrations is secondary; the right to peaceful protest is fundamental. When citizens face mounting challenges — inflation, economic instability, terrorism, political uncertainty, and shrinking democratic space — they cannot be expected to remain silent. Public protest becomes a natural outlet for frustration and a legitimate means of pressing demands.
The state must therefore engage with the PTI in the same way it has engaged with the JI, ensuring that protests remain peaceful and within the bounds of law. Heavy-handed tactics or blanket restrictions will only heighten tensions and risk confrontation. Pakistan cannot afford another cycle of instability at a time when the nation is already grappling with multiple crises. Dialogue, restraint, and respect for democratic rights are the only viable path forward.