Pakistan authorities on Saturday called in the Army in Islamabad and Lahore to prevent rallies by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, amid rising tensions.
The call for protest was given by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party founder who has been incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for more than a year.
The PTI is protesting for the release of Khan, to express solidarity with the judiciary, and against inflation.
Pakistan Army troops were deployed in Islamabad to ensure security as PTI supporters moved forward with plans for a protest. The army would remain in the city from October 5-17 to maintain law and order for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Pakistan is hosting the SCO summit on October 15-16.
The deployment came as PTI supporters led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur were moving ahead to reach the D-Chowk in the national capital to hold the protest. However, the convoy led by Gandapur faced intense police action as it approached Rawalpindi.
The police resorted to heavy tear gas shelling to disperse the protesters.
The 72-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician Khan refused to postpone the protest despite calls by the government.
According to the Dawn newspaper, Gandapur reached Islamabad on Saturday afternoon and was staying at the KP House. Heavy contingent of police and Rangers have entered the KP House to arrest Gandapur, it said.
The authorities are taking strict measures to stop PTI supporters from entering Islamabad or making it to the D-Chowk. All highways leading to the city have been blocked and pillion riding has been banned, while mobile phone services remained suspended for the second consecutive day.
The authorities also imposed Section 144, banning public gatherings, political assemblies, and demonstrations in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to outlaw any political assembly or protest. The Metro bus services linking the twin cities were also suspended.
Police and paramilitary Rangers were also deployed to stop the protestors.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday warned, “Nobody will be allowed to disrupt law and order [in Islamabad],” directing the authorities to deal with the “miscreants” with iron hands.
Meanwhile, the authorities on Saturday cut off Lahore from the rest of the country to stop PTI supporters from holding a rally at the historic Minar-i-Pakistan.
The PML-N government called in the Pakistan Army to maintain the law and order situation in Punjab province, especially in its capital Lahore. All roads leading to the ruling Sharif family’s Jati Umra Raiwind Lahore residence were also blocked.
Hundreds of containers have been placed in different parts of the city and also at all entry and exit points.
A curfew-like situation is created around Minar-e-Pakistan, which is also closed for any general public entry for an indefinite period. A heavy contingent of police has also been deployed there. The government has also suspended cell phone and internet services in different parts of Lahore.
The PTI has called Saturday’s protest a “do or die” situation.
PTI Punjab acting president Hammad Azhar said people of Lahore will come out in droves and reject the government’s “fascism”.
He said the party also plans to celebrate Khan’s birthday on Saturday and pass a resolution for “Haqeeqi Azadi” (real freedom) at the Minar-i-Pakistan ground.
