ISLAMABAD – Twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were thrown into high alert just minutes before Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned protest, as authorities imposed Section 144, banning all protests, rallies, and processions.
The decision comes ahead of high-stakes demonstration outside Islamabad High Court and Adiala Jail, called by PTI parliamentarians demanding swift hearings in cases against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the protest, saying that only members of the assembly would participate, and no party workers would be allowed. According to Afridi, the assembly members will gather outside Adiala Jail to show solidarity with Imran Khan’s sisters, while the High Court protest aims to pressure the judiciary for expedited hearings.
Tensions escalated further when Minister of State Barrister Aqil Malik revealed that the government is seriously considering Governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PTI members immediately protested in the National Assembly, demanding clarification. In response, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar stated emphatically that Governor’s rule is not martial law, calling it a constitutional measure in extreme situations. However, he did not confirm whether it would be implemented.
Law Minister accused PTI of past mistakes, warning that members are now paying price. He revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advised PTI to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than boycotts, and once again invited PTI members to solve issues through discussion.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq echoed the call for dialogue, urging leaders to settle matters internally rather than escalate tensions.
Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar delivered scathing message in the Assembly: “Jail visits are not for insulting the army or national security institutions, and they are not meant for social media campaigns against state agencies.” He stressed that jail meetings are strictly for legal matters, not conspiracies, and warned that illegal demands will never be fulfilled.
Tarar also recalled PTI era’s political vendettas, highlighting Imran Khan’s past threats to tamper with jail AC systems during his US visits. He condemned violations of “chadar and chardiwari”, asserting that the current government has endured the bitterness of the PTI era, but will not allow illegal or unconstitutional acts to continue.
With Section 144 in force across both Islamabad and Rawalpindi, PTI lawmakers are preparing for their protest, and the looming specter of Governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa raises the stakes for a potential major political showdown that could shake the nation.
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