Rana Sanaullah, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs in Pakistan, argued against holding protests and marches in Islamabad while appearing on Geo News’ ‘Jirga’. He stated that people have a constitutional right to protest but should not do so in the federal capital. Sanaullah emphasized this point by referencing recent postponed PTI and JI rallies planned for Islamabad. He also noted that the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024 restricts unauthorized gatherings in Islamabad, aiming to prevent potential unrest during these events.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Saturday, Rana Sanaullah, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, stated that while everyone has a right to protest constitutionally and legally, Islamabad should be off-limits for demonstrations. He urged people to "end the practice" of staging long marches toward the federal capital. PTI had planned nationwide protests demanding the release of its founder Imran Khan, who is in jail at Adiala in Rawalpindi, but these have been postponed until October 4. Similarly, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) halted their march against a petroleum levy after a request from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for a meeting. Sanaullah suggested that people protest instead in cities like Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Karachi, Peshawar, or Multan, emphasizing that the ban on protests in Islamabad extends to all groups under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024, which was quickly passed by the National Assembly before recent planned marches.
Written for “Protests In Islamabad Restricted” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah contended on Saturday that everyone had a constitutional and legal right to protest, but Islamabad should be off-limits for demonstrations and urged people to “end the practice” of staging long marches and protests in the federal capital.
asserted
Islamabad → contend → capital
PTI had been gearing up for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.
asserted
who → gear → jail
However, CM Afridi announced a day ago that the march had been postponed to Oct 4.
asserted
march → announce → Oct
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) had also launched a march towards Islamabad against the petroleum levy, but it postponed the move at the request of PM Shehbaz Sharif, pending a meeting with him.
asserted
it → launch → him
“If anyone needs to protest, they can do so in Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Karachi, Peshawar, or Multan.
asserted
they → need → Faisalabad
This practice needs to end,” Sanaullah said on Geo News programme ‘Jirga’.
asserted
Sanaullah → need → programme
He pointed out that the ban on protests in Islamabad did not apply only to the PTI.
asserted
ban → point → PTI
Gatherings in the capital without prior permission are also banned under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024, which had been rushed through the National Assembly ahead of a PTI gathering that month.
asserted
which → ban → gathering
“Peaceful protest is everyone’s constitutional and legal right, but they need to minus Islamabad from that,” Sanaullah stated.
asserted
Sanaullah → need → that
“It is everyone’s right, but minus attacks on Islamabad.
asserted
It → minus → Islamabad
This must be ensured.”
asserted
This → ensure → ?
He highlighted that a message had been sent that no protests would be allowed within Islamabad, as foreign diplomats were present in the federal capital and demonstrations would send a “bad message”.
asserted
demonstrations → highlight → message
The PML-N leader accused PTI of aiming to overthrow the government, alleging that their goal is to “erect ladders next to the walls of Adiala jail and break in to meet Imran Khan”, who has been incarcerated there since an Aug 5, 2023 conviction.
asserted
who → accuse → conviction
“How is this peaceful?” Sanaullah asked.
asserted
Sanaullah → ask → ?
“Party leaders have been threatening to overthrow the government or free someone from jail and then go back,” he outlined.
asserted
he → threaten → jail
“Permission for a long march will not be granted if this is their intent.”
asserted
this → grant → march
The PM’s aide stressed that no streets in Islamabad, besides those in the Red Zone and the M-1 Motorway, were shut for traffic.
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streets → stress → traffic
He clarified that containers had only been placed “at the corners” of the city’s roads for “safety”.
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containers → clarify → safety
“There are containers on every corner of Islamabad, but as we speak right now, no roads have been closed with them,” he said, explaining that containers have been placed at those points so they can be deployed as and when needed.
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they → be → points
“The situation in Islamabad is not as it is being described in the media,” he asserted, noting that some were referring to the capital as a “container city”.
asserted
some → describe → city
The PM’s aide stressed that PTI also did not submit any application to the Islamabad administration seeking permission for a gathering, nor inform it of its expected time and duration.
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PTI → stress → time
Sanaullah added that PTI should approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and provide their “required guarantees”, contending that they did not intend to do that.
asserted
they → add → that
Asked if the authorities’ response to any march would be similar to the Nov 26, 2024 crackdown on PTI’s ’Final Call’ protest, Sanaullah said he did not want to “say any such thing” as there were fellow Pakistanis, friends and colleagues in the party.
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he → ask → party
However, he warned that PTI “should not hold such a march at any cost that would attempt to push back law enforcement agencies and move towards D-Chowk”.
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that → warn → Chowk
“Under no circumstance will they be granted access,” Sanaullah warned, cautioning PTI supporters against using force, noting that such an action, in the wake of IHC’s recent ruling, would provide authorities with “legal backing” to respond.
asserted
action → grant → backing
Hearing a plea against the planned march, the IHC on September 14 ruled that no political party or its leadership has the “lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas and buildings in Islamabad”.
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party → hear → Islamabad
Punjab had already imposed a ban on gatherings across the province until Oct 5 and prohibited inciting people to “unlawful assembly”.
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Punjab → impose → assembly
A similar ban under Section 144 has been enforced in Islamabad for two months.
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ban → enforce → months
The federal government has also approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and several districts of Punjab from Sept 20 to Oct 5.
asserted
government → approve → Oct
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