The Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared on Saturday that unauthorized protests or gatherings will not be permitted in the capital during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, issued a written ruling in response to a petition from traders, stating that there should be no lockdown during the summit scheduled for October 15 and 16 in Islamabad.

The IHC instructed the Islamabad administration and government to designate a specific area for protests. “Protesters must assemble in the area designated by the administration to voice their concerns,” the court stated.

While recognizing Articles 16 and 17 of the Constitution, which uphold the rights to assembly and movement, the IHC emphasized that these rights may be subject to reasonable restrictions.

The court was told that the activists of a political party are marching towards the red zone which would freeze movement of other citizens. The IHC directed authorities to take necessary measures to maintain peace in Islamabad.

The order read that the court was informed that the army has been deployed under Article 245 to ensure security while section 144 is also imposed.