Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday warned that anyone who violated the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) detailed judgment and attempted to create unrest in the federal capital or any province would face legal action, including contempt of court proceedings. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had announced that it would march to Islamabad on September 27 to press for the release of founder Imran Khan. The party had been preparing a central convoy from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), with caravans from other parts of the country expected to join before proceeding towards the federal capital. Speaking at a press conference at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, Naqvi said a detailed law-and-order meeting had been held to discuss the call for protests in the coming days. The meeting also reviewed the internal security situation, with officers from other provinces and law enforcement agencies in attendance. Naqvi said the IHC’s detailed judgment had left no room for any attempt to create unrest in the federal capital or any province. قانون نافذ کرنے والے اداروں کو وضاحت کی ہے کہ اگر کوئی نکلنے کی کوشش کرے تو ہرممکن طریقے سے روکیں گے، وفاقی وزیرداخلہ مزید پڑھیں : https://t.co/BGlyRH06HJ#ExpressNews #MohsinNaqvi #Islamabad #Protest pic.twitter.com/Dj4xEcQy3Q — Express News (@ExpressNewsPK) September 18, 2026 He said all law enforcement agencies had been given clear instructions that anyone attempting to come out in violation of the court’s judgment would first face legal action in the form of contempt of court proceedings. “Secondly, we will stop them through any means possible,” he said. The interior minister also referred to losses suffered during previous unrest and said weapons had been used against law enforcement personnel. He noted that discussions were taking place on social media about specific tribes and people belonging to those tribes joining the protests. Read: IHC bars harassment, arrest of PTI leaders ahead of September 27 long march “This time, we are informing our youth of very clear rules of engagement, and there is no scenario that if you fire on them, they will sit quietly,” he said. He urged political leadership to hold protests within their respective areas and cities but warned against bringing demonstrators to the federal capital with plans to shut it down or entering another province to carry out attacks. “I want to request all leadership that they can protest, protest in your area, in your city, but coming like this to the federal capital with plans to shut it down or going to a province and attacking it like this; this can be in no way permissible to you,” he said. Naqvi also referred to the terrorist attack in Kohat, saying details of the incident had only recently been received. He said the country was fighting terrorism daily in K-P, and 90% of the government’s attention should be focused on countering terrorism rather than efforts to mobilise people, funds or transport for protests. “So, especially after incidents like these, it does not suit you to, on one side, carry the funeral processions for the martyrs and on the other side, prepare for protests. It would be better if the chief minister and his cabinet work as hard in fighting these terrorists as they are in trying to organise the Long March. If they do so, then incidents of terrorism would decrease,” he added. Naqvi underlined that it was the responsibility of the office holder to protect the life and property of citizens and to stop protests in Islamabad. "This is the job of the interior minister, and not of Mohsin Naqvi". He added that there was a difference between political campaigns and political activity, and armed mobs who resorted to violence and who came “fully equipped”. "This does not reflect a political mindset and is unbecoming of any political party". The interior minister emphasised that the court’s judgement had made it clear that if there was any loss of life during the protests, then the organisers of the protests would be "responsible". “There are many sensible leaders in the opposition, and I expect them to understand that there is no benefit in fighting and that these protests will harm the country, the economy and their own province. I hope that sense will prevail and that they will review their decision,” he remarked. Read More: Afridi vows to lead long march to Islamabad Naqvi stated that ultimately, political matters were resolved at the negotiating table, as the prime minister had also said in Parliament, noting that if people thought that armed mobs resorting to violence could resolve things, then "we are ready to deal with that, and we have completed our preparations today." He added that "our law enforcement agencies, both federal and provincial, are ready, and we will not allow any unrest and disorder to take place in Islamabad like in the past". Responding to a question on possible negotiations, Naqvi said that the judgement of the Court had come and any sensible Pakistani and patriot should and would think about participating in protests in such turbulent and sensitive times. “Even within the PTI, if a survey is held, 80 to 90 per cent of the party would not know the rationale for the protest towards Islamabad”. “I am personally against placing containers, but when law enforcement agencies ask for this, then you have to use this option. To secure Islamabad, we would need to blockade, but we will try to minimise the difficulty of the common people,” he remarked. The interior minister further stated that the "current situation in K-P was before us", adding that it was the responsibility of the provincial government to improve the law and order situation, provide resources and focus on the province. While responding to another question on the right to peaceful protests, Naqvi responded by saying that "you can do peaceful protests in your province and I am not against any protest, as long as it is peaceful". Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said that PTI was "marching" towards September 27th and the "freedom" of the country, adding that "victory and success will be ours". While responding to a reporter's question on possible reservations of ally Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayin Pakistan about the march, Raja dismissed any talk of differences, adding that a detailed plan of action would be shared in this regard in the next few days. ”انشاءاللہ 27 ستمبر کی جانب ہم گامزن ہیں اور فتح اور کامرانی انشاءاللہ ہماری ہوگی “- @salmanAraja #LongMarchOnSeptember27th pic.twitter.com/KJ1cCDJ2v0 — PTI (@PTIofficial) September 18, 2026 The press conference came after the Islamabad High Court this past week barred political parties, political leaders, provincial governments and public office holders from occupying public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas, buildings or other public places within or leading to the federal capital. Also Read: PTI Sept 27 protest: IHC rules no political party, public office holder can block roads in Islamabad The court declared that no one had a lawful right to obstruct the free movement of citizens or interfere with their access to trade, business, education and medical facilities. Islamabad High Court Detailed Judgment on PTI Long March: Constitutional Limits & Restrictions Explained#IslamabadHighCourt #PTI #LongMarch #Fiaz Mehmood #PakistanLaw #Article16 #IslamabadNews pic.twitter.com/mHKtOnlClV — Express News (@ExpressNewsPK) September 18, 2026 A three-member IHC bench led by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar issued the directives while disposing of a petition filed by citizen Waqas Ahmed. The petitioner sought directions to stop the PTI from organising a protest march in Islamabad on September 27. The court disposed of the petition, stating that detailed reasons would be recorded later, subject to any amplification or elucidation deemed appropriate. In its written order, the court directed all provincial governments, including chief ministers, to ensure that government resources, public funds, officials, vehicles, machinery and other equipment were not used directly or indirectly to facilitate any march, procession or rally heading towards Islamabad. Govt resources barred from PTI’s Sept 27 Islamabad march K-P Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah on Friday directed heads of all government departments and institutions to ensure that official resources were not used to facilitate the PTI's planned long march towards Islamabad on September 27. The chief secretary issued the directives in light of the IHC’s September 14 order, instructing all government officers and employees not to use public funds, official vehicles, machinery, equipment or other state resources for any march, procession or rally heading towards the federal capital. According to an official notification, no government employee should comply with any direction requiring him or her to facilitate or assist a march, procession or rally travelling to Islamabad. Any official who was pressured or compelled to provide such assistance had been directed to immediately inform the chief secretary or the inspector general of police. The notification stated that public funds, government vehicles, machinery and other equipment would not be used to assist or facilitate participants of any march, procession or rally. It also made clear that no government employee would be forced, persuaded or encouraged to participate in such an activity. The chief secretary further directed that permission would not be granted for participation in any march, rally or procession whose purpose or outcome was to obstruct the peaceful and lawful use of public movement, trade, business, educational institutions, medical facilities or property in Islamabad. A helpline had also been established at 091-9210068 for government employees facing pressure or coercion to provide official support to the march. The chief secretary directed all administrative secretaries, heads of departments, commissioners, deputy commissioners and other senior officials to ensure strict compliance with the court’s directions and to communicate the instructions to subordinate staff. The notification warned that departmental action would be taken against any government employee found violating the directives.