Pakistan seals capital, deploys army ahead of planned PTI protest
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Islamabad: Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, has been locked down with heightened security measures ahead of a major anti-government protest called by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, set to take place on Sunday.
Anticipating potential unrest, the government has blocked 37 key routes to Islamabad with shipping containers, shut down six motorways, and deployed paramilitary forces along with the Pakistan Army to secure the Red Zone, which houses critical government buildings including the parliament, Supreme Court, and diplomatic enclave. Section 144, banning public gatherings, has been imposed for two months, and internet, mobile services, and public transport in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been suspended.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has vowed strict action against any attempts to disrupt order in the capital. The protest coincides with the arrival of a 60-member Belarusian delegation ahead of President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s official visit on November 25.
Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year, called on PTI members to march on Islamabad to demand his release and the annulment of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which extends the tenure of Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir. PTI also accuses the government of stealing their electoral mandate in February.
The Punjab government has similarly imposed Section 144 in the province, warning PTI supporters against inciting violence. Azma Bukhari, spokesperson for the Punjab government, criticized Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for allegedly misusing his office for political purposes while neglecting security issues in his region.
“Imran Khan and his allies are inciting innocent people to violence while their families live comfortably abroad. They want bloodshed for their political gain,” Bukhari said, calling out the PTI’s leadership.
Despite internal divisions within PTI and fears of a crackdown, the party has vowed to proceed with the protest. However, several members have gone into hiding to avoid potential arrests and violence.
with IANS inputs