IHC Chief Justice rebukes KP Advocate General in PTI protest case

During a hearing on Friday, September 11, a heated exchange occurred between Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel over the petition against the PTI's planned protest.

Reports from the courtroom indicate the Chief Justice rebuked the Advocate General during the arguments. In one pointed remark, the Chief Justice reportedly told the AG, "You are the king here." Following the arguments, the court issued an order in the case, the details of which are awaited.

During a hearing on Friday before a larger bench of the Islamabad High Court, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel presented further arguments challenging the maintainability of a petition against the PTI’s planned protest.

Mr. Utmankhel contended that the petitioner had an appropriate legal remedy available before the Islamabad chief commissioner, and therefore the high court's extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 199 of the Constitution could not be invoked.

He also questioned why the PTI had not been made a party to the petition if the proceedings concerned its planned protest. In response to a query from Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, the advocate general stated that his office was not concerned with the political narrative of the KP chief minister but with official responsibilities. The larger bench also includes Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Muhammad Asif.

During the hearing on Friday regarding a petition against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned nationwide protest, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General formally challenged the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) jurisdiction to hear the case.

The argument was presented before the larger bench, headed by Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar, which is examining the petition against the party's long march scheduled for September 27.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed all provincial Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) and chief secretaries to appear before it on Friday in the case concerning the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned protest on September 27.

During the hearing by a larger bench, the court rejected a request from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General for a two-day adjournment to prepare arguments.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar, emphasized its constitutional responsibility to protect the rights of Islamabad's residents. The court also sought a record of actions taken against individuals who had previously violated court orders related to protests.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has constituted a larger bench to hear the petition challenging the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned nationwide protest on September 27.

During a hearing on Thursday, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar admonished Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel for describing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned September 27 protest as a move in support of the judiciary.

“Thank you very much for wanting to strengthen the judiciary,” the chief justice remarked, before asking: “Is the judiciary so weak that you wish to strengthen it?” He observed that the judiciary was not so weak as to require the support of a political party.

The exchange occurred as a larger bench heard a citizen's petition against the protest. Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan argued that government machinery could not be used for political protests and that a clear court order would help civil servants comply with the law.