Overview
- In a written order, the PHC declared the deployment of official vehicles, machinery and manpower for protests, rallies or long marches illegal under Articles 4, 5 and 25 of the Constitution.
- The ruling came on a petition by Jawad Ali alleging the PTI-led KP administration used fire engines, heavy equipment and staff for political demonstrations, including the November 2024 long march to Islamabad.
- A bench of Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal disposed of the case and directed administrative heads to enforce a complete prohibition across departments and employees.
- The court held that diverting public assets for partisan activity amounts to misconduct, abuse of authority and waste of public funds, and it cautioned that participating officials could face discipline.
- The provincial government’s representative disputed the petitioner’s lists and said any staff joined in a personal capacity, while the federal Interior Ministry had previously warned KP’s bureaucracy not to allow state machinery for political protests.