Imran Khan's PTI barred by Islamabad court from Nov 24 rally, citing Belaruz prez visit, public order law

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday (Nov 21) barred jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party - the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)- from holding a planned rally in Islamabad on Sunday, citing a new public order law and the upcoming three-day official visit by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

Khan's supporters had planned the rally in Islamabad to demand the former PM's release from jail.

It was not immediately clear whether the PTI would withdraw its call to hold the protest.

Also watch | Bushra Bibi urges supporters to join protest on November 24

No rallies or sit-ins allowed on Nov 24: What did the court say about Imran Khan party's rally?

Ruling on a petition filed by a group of traders, the IHC said the country's Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024 mandated that a written application be submitted to the district magistrate seven days prior to the public rallies, adding no such application was received or permission given.

“This court was also informed that the president of Belarus with his delegation of more than 60 persons is arriving on Nov 24 and their protection and freedom of movement is of utmost importance and directly involves relationship with another country, hence the larger public interest is involved,” Dawn newspaper, which accessed the order, quoted the court as saying.

The court suggested that the government form a panel to engage with PTI leadership, preferably headed by Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqwi, and inform them about the “sensitivity over the weekend due to movement of the president of a foreign country”.

Pakistani authorities have already banned rallies in the city for two months for security reasons, and the government has vowed that it would not allow anyone, including the supporters of Khan, to violate the ban.

Meanwhile, Khan's wife Bushra Bibi urged PTI supporters to join the massive protest on Monday. 

Khan gets bail in state gifts case

Imran Khan was ousted as prime minister in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament and he has been held in prison for more than a year after his first conviction in a graft case.

Also read | Pakistan: Ex-PM Imran Khan granted bail in Toshakhana-II case, court orders immediate release

Khan has so far been embroiled in over 150 cases and has been sentenced in several, including to three years, 10 years, 14 years and seven years to be served concurrently under Pakistani law. His convictions were later overturned in appeals but he cannot be freed due to other, pending cases against him.

Earlier this week, a court in Pakistan granted bail to Khan in a case relating to the illegal sale of state gifts. 

(With inputs from agencies)