The JI has set out to seek relief for the public from the harrowing prices of fuel these days, but there is no saying if that will be the limit of its ambition once the Margalla Hills are in sight. The PTI wants much more: it seeks to agitate for constitutional and democratic rights, elections and a fairer judiciary, as well as the release of, or at least some relief for, its jailed founder Imran Khan. Though both the JI and PTI sit on the opposition benches, it appears so far that their marches are taking place independently, and they would rather keep things that way.

Given the rate at which containers are being laid out, trenches being dug and additional security requisitioned, it seems that the government is preparing not for a political event but an invasion. Even more concerning is the manner in which it has been arbitrarily arresting and detaining citizens, including Mr Khan’s sisters. This could turn an otherwise manageable political event into something much more confrontational.

To avoid further escalation, the government must produce all detained leaders for judicial review and proceed by the book thereafter. Political protest is a right enshrined in the Constitution, and anyone, regardless of the party they belong to, is entitled to exercise that right as long as they do not take the law in their own hands.

It would be commendable if, instead of a ‘thwart the protesters at all costs’ mentality, the government could designate protest sites before the caravans arrive so that it is not accused of subverting constitutional rights. In other words, the government would do well to avoid any unjustified use of force. The protesters, too, must stick to lawful means and avoid unnecessary confrontation. Both sides must remember that it is politics, not war, for which the protesters are marching to Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2026

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) has also claimed that police were intimidating and detaining members of the legal fraternity.

The IHC directives came as Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas heard a petition filed by PTI leaders, including Malik Aamir Dogar and Shoaib Shaheen, challenging alleged police harassment and raids on the residences of party leaders.

According to the court order, the petitioners’ counsel informed the judge that police officials were conducting allegedly illegal raids on the homes of PTI leaders.

The counsel pleaded that raids could not be conducted without proper legal authorisation and requested the court to restrain Islamabad police officials from violating the sanctity of homes and the privacy of households, the order said.

Issuing the order, the IHC summoned the Islamabad SSP (operations) to appear in person on September 24 to address the allegations raised in the petition.

The proceedings come amid heightened security measures in the federal capital in connection with the PTI’s long march and protest activities.

Recovery plea for MNA Sanaullah Mastikhel

Separately, a petition was also filed on Tuesday before the IHC seeking the recovery of PTI MNA Sanaullah Mastikhel, who the petitioner claimed was taken from Parliament Lodges on the evening of September 20.

According to the petition, filed by Mastikhel’s relative M. Kashif, the individuals who took the lawmaker away identified themselves as personnel of security agencies.

The petitioner alleged that they did not produce any arrest warrant, first information report (FIR) or legal order authorising his detention.

The petition stated that extensive efforts had been made to locate Mastikhel, but no information regarding his whereabouts had been obtained.

It further claimed that neither the police nor the administration had provided details regarding the matter.

The petitioner requested the IHC to direct the authorities to recover the PTI lawmaker and disclose whether any criminal cases have been registered against him.

The petition also sought information about the legal grounds for his alleged detention and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

In a statement on Monday, the PTI alleged that five of its MNAs had been taken away from Parliament Lodges. Another MPA was also reported missing.

IHCBA condemns intimidation of lawyers, advocates

Also on Tuesday, the IHCBA strongly condemned what it described as “repeated harassment, intimidation and alleged unlawful detention” of members of the legal fraternity by Islamabad police.

In a press release signed by its secretary Barrister Qasim Nawaz Abbasi, the association stated that it was conscious of the prevailing law and order situation and did not seek confrontation, disruption or escalation.

The bar association said it expected the same restraint and responsibility from law enforcement authorities.

“Maintenance of law and order cannot be a justification for unlawful interference with lawyers, intimidation of advocates or deprivation of liberty without lawful authority and due process,” the statement said.

The IHCBA called upon the Islamabad inspector general of police (IG) and senior police officers to “immediately intervene, restrain their personnel and ensure that no lawyer was subjected to harassment, intimidation or unlawful detention”.

It further demanded that complaints of unlawful conduct be promptly investigated and that officials found responsible be held accountable in accordance with the law.

The bar association stressed that it had exercised restraint in the larger public interest, but cautioned that such restraint should not be mistaken for weakness or consent.

“If such conduct continues, the association will be compelled to invoke all constitutional and legal remedies available to protect its members and the independence of the legal profession,” the statement asserted.

The IHCBA reiterated its commitment to peace and public order and expressed the expectation that police leadership would ensure that the situation did not reach a point of confrontation.

Contempt plea filed against Junaid Akbar

Meanwhile, a controversy surrounding a statement by PTI MNA Junaid Akbar has also reached the IHC, with a local trader filing a contempt of court petition against him.

In his remarks regarding his party’s upcoming march, he said that they would turn Islamabad into Somnath, a historic Indian temple, and “would keep on lifting corpses and new people would also come”.

However, Akbar had refuted the criticism over his statement, maintaining that his reference to Somnath was related to PTI’s repeated return to Islamabad and was given a “wrong spin”.

The petition was filed by Islamabad-based trader Waqas Ahmed through his counsel, Advocate Akhtar Chhina, alleging that Akbar violated the IHC’s September 14 judgment by allegedly inciting and provoking people to march to the federal capital.

According to the petition, Akbar, through his statement, allegedly encouraged the public to proceed towards Islamabad, despite the restrictions and directions outlined in the IHC ruling.

In its judgment, the IHC stated that no political party or its leadership had the “lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas and buildings in Islamabad that would obstruct in any manner access to educational institutions and medical facilities”.

The petitioner requested the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the PTI leader for allegedly disregarding the judicial order and to take action in accordance with the law.

The petition also referred to a Supreme Court judgment concerning former senator and Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi, who was sentenced to one month in prison and fined Rs50,000 in a contempt of court case in 2018.

The petitioner argued that the court’s directions were binding and that any alleged violation of its orders should be examined under the applicable legal framework.

Hafeez was sentenced to death in 2019 and his appeal against his conviction has been pending since 2020.

A two-judge bench, comprising Justices Sadiq Mahmud Khurram and Muhammad Jawad Zafar, took up the appeal on Tuesday as prosecution lawyer Advocate Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry and Hafeez’s lawyer, Advocate Asad Jamal, appeared before the court.

The hearing began with the bench observing that formal notices had not been issued to the parties since the transfer of Hafeez’s appeal from the Multan bench to the principal seat.

The case was transferred on the request of Hafeez’s lawyer in December 2021.

During the hearing on Tuesday, the LHC issued notices on the appeal, which Advocates Jamal and Chaudhry received on behalf of the appellant and the prosecution, respectively, in the court.

The court further stated that it would like to hear the prosecution on the admissibility of electronic evidence involved in the case and the Facebook page attributed to Hafeez.

It then decided to adjourn the hearing till Oct 7, but Hafeez’s lawyer sought a longer adjournment to prepare his arguments.

The bench then said it would announce the date of the next hearing later.

Hafeez — a former visiting lecturer at the Department of English Literature of the Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) — was arrested by police on March 13, 2013 and his trial in the blasphemy case, linked to Facebook uploads, began in 2014.

He was sentenced to death by a Multan district and sessions court on December 21, 2019 on blasphemy charges and subsequently appealed his conviction in 2020.

At least seven judges were transferred through the course of Hafeez’s case. As many as 15 prosecution witnesses recorded their statements against Hafeez while 11 others were not called after being declared irrelevant.

The trial was shifted to the Multan Central Jail in April 2014 by the Punjab home department due to security concerns.

One of Hafeez’s previous lawyer, Rashid Rehman, was shot dead in May 2014 in his office. The month prior to it, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan had expressed serious concerns when death threats were extended to Rehman, also the special task force coordinator of the commission.

In December 2014, another lawyer representing Hafeez also received a threat letter from the militant Islamic State group, warning him to withdraw from the case.

The hearing of the appeal has also been deferred multiple times.

Umm-e-Hani conceded only 10 runs in her four overs, including a wicket-maiden, as Pakistan overcame Bangladesh’s early resistance to restrict them to 114 for seven after posting 145 for eight.

The medal is Pakistan’s third in the women’s cricket competition at the Asian Games, following gold-medal triumphs in 2010 and 2014.

It also marked a measure of redemption for Pakistan, who had lost the bronze-medal match to Bangladesh at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Pakistan had been in danger of posting a modest total after collapsing from 46 without loss to 67 for five, but Fatima changed the course of the innings with an aggressive 30-ball 45.

The captain, who struck three fours and three sixes, added 67 from 43 balls with Aliya Riaz to take Pakistan towards a competitive total. Aliya contributed 25 from 22 balls, including two sixes and a four.

Fatima’s innings was particularly significant in the context of her prolific year. She entered the match as Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in women’s Twenty20 internationals in 2026 and took her tally to 540 with Tuesday’s knock. She also remains Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is this year.

Earlier, Pakistan made a steady start after Fatima won the toss and elected to bat, with Gull Feroza and Shawaal Zulfiqar putting on 46 in 6.4 overs.

Gull struck six fours in her 23-ball 31 before Nahida Akter ended the opening stand, while Shawaal made 17 from 27 balls.

Bangladesh then seized control, taking five wickets for 21 runs to leave Pakistan struggling at 67 for five. Fatima and Aliya, however, rebuilt the innings before accelerating after Pakistan reached 90 for five in 15 overs.

Fatima struck Rabeya Khan for six before both batters cleared the ropes against Sanjida Akter in the 17th over. Pakistan added 55 runs in the final five overs, although Bangladesh hit back by taking two wickets and conceding only seven in the final over.

Nahida, Shorna Akter and Ritu Moni claimed two wickets apiece for Bangladesh.

Pakistan’s defence began emphatically as Umm-e-Hani and Tasmia Rubab reduced Bangladesh to 20 for three inside five overs.

Umm-e-Hani struck in her first over, removing Juairiya Ferdous, before Tasmia dismissed Dilara Akter for 12. Umm-e-Hani then removed Sobhana Mostary early in the fifth over.

All three catches in the opening exchanges were taken by Saira Jabeen, including a spectacular effort at the cover boundary to dismiss Dilara.

Bangladesh’s hopes rested on captain Nigar Sultana and Sharmin Akhter, who added 47 for the fourth wicket. Nigar made 25 off 30 balls with three fours, while Sharmin remained unbeaten on 46 from 45 balls, hitting four fours.

But with Bangladesh requiring more than 10 runs an over at the halfway stage, the task became increasingly difficult. Ayesha Zafar trapped Nigar leg-before in the 14th over, before Umm-e-Hani and Fatima struck in successive overs to remove Shorna Akter and Ritu Moni.

Umm-e-Hani’s dismissal of Shorna for six gave her career-best T20I figures of three for 10, improving on her previous best of two for 28 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla earlier this year.

Nashra Sandhu removed Rabeya Khan for the seventh wicket with Bangladesh on 93, leaving the target beyond their reach.

Fatima also chipped in with the wicket of Ritu Moni, taking her tally to 31 wickets in T20Is in 2026.

Pakistan’s campaign had begun with a three-wicket victory over Thailand in the quarter-final before Sri Lanka beat them by eight wickets in the semi-final.

The bronze-medal victory ensured they returned home from the Asian Games with a podium finish.

India clinch gold

India routed Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final to take home gold.

The Women in Blue batted first and posted an imposing 216-3 on the board, on the back of standout knocks by openers Smriti Mandhana (79 off 45), and Shafali Verma (48 off 29).

A stellar 22-ball-49 from wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh rescued India from a slight middle-overs wobble as Sri Lanka pulled some control back. Chamudi Prabodha, Kavisha Dilhari and Sugandika Kumari took a wicket apiece.

Sri Lanka rolled over for 69 runs, with only three batters including captain Chamari Athapaththu reaching double figures.

Deepti Sharma took three wickets for her extremely miserly spell in which she conceded just six runs in her four overs, which included a maiden. Shafali accounted for the first two wickets, and bowled at an economy rate equal to Deepti’s, conceding just three runs across the two overs she bowled.

Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil took two wickets apiece, with the latter dismissing Kaushini Nuthyangana to seal the win, completing India’s successful defense of their 2023 gold won in Hangzhou.

Sri Lanka settled for silver to complete the podium.

In a statement, the spokesperson said the NCCIA’s Islamabad unit had launched a major crackdown on illegal call centres as part of efforts to curb organised cyber fraud.

“Raids were conducted on 3 call centres established in Sectors E-11 and G-10, resulting in a total of 212 individuals being taken into custody,” according to the spokesperson.

He added that the detainees included Chinese and Pakistani men and women.

“During the operations, 306 mobile phones, 383 computers/CPUs and 299 monitors and laptops were recovered,” he said.

The spokesperson said the suspects were allegedly involved in international fraud through Google scams and “low-dating” schemes, adding that the network was found to be linked to India and Brazil.

A case had been registered and an investigation was underway, he said.

Last week, the NCCIA arrested 27 suspects, including four Afghan nationals, during a major operation in Karachi, busting an international scam call centre.

Initial investigations had revealed that the suspects posed as “authorised representatives of financial institutions and contacted foreign nationals through spoofed and fraudulent calls to obtain their personal and financial information.”

In August, the NCCIA arrested 114 foreign nationals, including 111 Chinese and three Vietnamese citizens, for allegedly running a cyber-romance and sextortion network from a registered IT business in the capital.

The network was allegedly involved in luring foreign nationals into online sexual conversations, including video chats and explicit video calls, and subsequently exploiting the material for criminal and financial purposes.

The court also issued notices on a separate petition against Adiala jail authorities for allegedly failing to facilitate the signing of the documents.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra directed the relevant authorities to respond to the application concerning the powers of attorney.

During the proceedings, lawyers representing Imaan and Chattha told the court that efforts had been made to obtain the required signatures from the detained lawyers, but the jail authorities had not facilitated the process.

Advocate Zainab Janjua said she had made efforts on Friday and Saturday and had also met officials at Adiala jail. However, the authorities maintained that the powers of attorney had to be processed through the official procedure, she said.

She argued that both lawyers were in the custody of the court and had a fundamental right to engage legal counsel.

Judge Sipra then inquired whether the powers of attorney had been attested. Advocate Asif Tamboli pointed out that Imaan’s mother, Dr Shireen Mazari, was present in the courtroom and could verify the relevant details.

The judge observed that a bail petition could not be accepted without the required signatures, to which Tamboli suggested that the court retain the powers of attorney and arrange for their verification personally.

Judge Sipra remarked that rules and regulations were often set aside when lawyers were involved, adding that he would find a way to resolve the matter. He said jail officials would be asked why they were not facilitating the signing of the documents.

The judge also questioned the prosecutor about why the established procedure was not being followed.

At this stage, Imaan’s mother told the court that the two had been arrested from the office of the jail’s deputy superintendent (legal). She alleged that both lawyers had been physically assaulted during their arrest and urged the court to intervene in the matter concerning the signing of their powers of attorney.

The legal team subsequently pursued proceedings against the Adiala jail authorities for allegedly failing to facilitate the signing of the documents.

The court then issued notices to the jail officials on the petition, seeking their response.

Imaan and Hadi were sentenced in January to 17 years on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in the controversial social media posts case.

Last week, the Supreme Court had suspended their sentences and ordered their release on bail against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each. The SC ordered the couple’s release on bail pending the Islamabad High Court’s final verdict on their appeals against the trial court’s decision.

However, the reprieve was short-lived as hours later, Islamabad police arrested the couple again in connection with another case and produced them before an ATC, which sent them to jail on judicial remand.

The fresh case in which the two were arrested was registered at the federal capital’s Kohsar police station on March 22 last year on the complaint of City Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio.

Imaan and her husband were accused of chanting anti-government slogans and blocking roads and were nominated by name in the first information report. However, at the time of registration of the case, no section of the Anti-Terrorism Act had been added.

The fresh arrest was widely condemned by journalists and lawyers, who had termed the development a “mockery of justice”.

The petition was filed on Tuesday, a day after the minister and two other men with him were allegedly abducted by unidentified armed men near Peshawar’s M-1 toll plaza.

A case has also been filed at the Chamkani police station on kidnapping charges. Both the petition and the first information report (FIR) were filed on the complaint of the minister’s brother, retired Major Anwar Aziz.

The FIR, dated Sept 21 and seen by Dawn, alleged that Fazal, his driver Qaiser Khan and Constable Mujahid were abducted by unidentified armed men near Peshawar’s M-1 toll plaza on Monday afternoon.

The plea, filed through advocate Bashir Khan Wazir, requested the PHC to direct the police and other law enforcement agencies to recover the minister, whose whereabouts remain unknown to his family.

It also sought directions to the KP inspector general (IG) and the capital city police officer (CCPO) to constitute a high-level inquiry committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident and take steps to recover Fazal.

The KP IG, CCPO, the Peshawar senior superintendent of police (SSP) Operations, and other relevant authorities have been made respondents in the petition.

It claimed that armed men in plain clothes intercepted his vehicle near the Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza and fired at its tyres. It further alleged that the armed men then forced the provincial minister out of his vehicle and took him away.

The plea described the alleged abduction of the provincial minister in broad daylight as a matter of serious concern and requested the PHC to order his recovery.

The petitioner maintained that if the missing minister was in the custody of any state institution or other authority, he should be produced before the court and released if his detention was found to be unlawful.

The petition is fixed for hearing on Sept 23 (Wednesday) before a division bench comprising Senior Puisne Judge Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel.

FIR and protest

The FIR invoked Section 365 (kidnapping or abduction) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

According to the complaint, Fazal and the others were travelling from Charsadda to Peshawar to attend a KP Assembly session when they were intercepted by armed men in “black uniforms and plain clothes”.

They were taken to an undisclosed location, while the official vehicle they were travelling in was left at the spot, the FIR added.

A video shared by the PTI showed several masked armed men approaching the minister’s car. In the video, one of the masked men grabs the door of the car to open it while another is seen firing shots at the tyres of the moving vehicle.

The PTI had also announced a protest demonstration against the alleged abduction at Farooq Azam Chowk at 4pm on Tuesday.

Speaking to Dawn, PTI Charsadda president and MPA Arshad Umarzai said the party would announce its future course of action at the protest.

Strongly condemning Fazal’s “arrest”, he described it as a failure of the provincial government.

In a statement posted on X, KP Information Minister Shafi Jan termed the “picking up” of Fazal a “direct attack on the Constitution, law, democracy and public mandate”.

“We will not be intimidated by such tactics. Snatching away the right to peaceful political struggle is the height of fascism, but we will continue to fight for our rights while remaining within the bounds of the Constitution and law,” he said.