Islamabad sealed due to PTI rally.
Islamabad: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is in Pakistan’s jail, is once again becoming a problem for PM Shahbaz Sharif and his government. From jail, Imran today ordered his party Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold massive protests in Islamabad. After this, PTI workers had also announced a massive protest in Islamabad for the release of Imran Khan. But Pakistani authorities today completely sealed the capital Islamabad to stop the anti-government rally by Imran Khan’s supporters. Along with this, mobile and internet services were stopped.
The PTI campaign is the latest in a series of protest rallies since last month to put pressure on Shehbaz Sharif for the release of Imran Khan and agitate against the ruling coalition government. According to PTI, there has been fraud in the elections. Pakistani officials said shipping containers were placed to block the entry and exit points of Islamabad, where a large number of police and paramilitary forces are deployed. Along with this, the police has imposed Section 144 and banned any gathering in the capital.
Home Minister said the plan to attack Islamabad will not succeed
Seeing PTI’s anti-government preparations, Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a press conference late on Thursday night, “If anyone plans an attack on Islamabad, we will not let it happen.” He urged Khan’s party to shift the rally to later dates to avoid disrupting Islamabad’s preparations for hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting on October 15 and 16. “Ahead of the conference, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is visiting. He will also be accompanied by a high-profile Saudi delegation and Chinese Premier Li Qiang,” Naqvi said. In such a situation, “we cannot allow any anarchy.”
The conference in the capital will send a bad signal to the world.
Naqvi said, any movement before the conference in the capital will not give a good signal to the world. But Imran Khan rejected their appeal and asked his supporters to gather outside the Parliament regardless of the obstacles. “I want you all to reach D-Chowk today for a peaceful protest rally,” he posted on Twitter on Friday, referring to a spot outside Parliament. “This war has entered the decisive phase.” Even though Khan is in jail since August 2023, the candidates supported by him won the most seats in the February general elections.
However their numbers were insufficient to form the government. Islamabad Police warned that they will take action against anyone attempting to disturb peace in the capital. Any gathering has been banned.
Schools were closed and cellphone services suspended in Islamabad and the nearby city of Rawalpindi. Apart from this, a ban has also been imposed on the seating of any passenger other than the driver on a bike. (Reuters)
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