Pakistan’s Capital Sealed, Police Deployed, Trenches Dug to Counter PTI Protest

Islamabad, Nov 23, 2024 – The government has devised a comprehensive plan to manage the expected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest on November 24, including sealing all entry points to Islamabad and deploying additional security forces throughout the city.

The government has blocked the Iran Avenue and Margalla Road with containers on both sides, while containers have also been placed at Expressway, D-Chowk, and Zero Point. The metro bus service from IJP to Pakistan Secretariat will remain closed, and metro services in the twin cities will be completely suspended tomorrow.

Bus terminals in the federal capital have been closed, and all inter-city transport terminals in Rawalpindi will remain closed until further notice. In response to the potential protests, an additional 30,000 police personnel have been deployed in Islamabad. This includes 19,000 from Punjab, 5,000 from Sindh, 1,000 from Azad Kashmir, and 5,000 FC personnel, all of whom will assist Islamabad police in maintaining law and order.

Motorways Closed

The government has also closed 8 major points of the motorway. The M1 motorway from Peshawar to Islamabad and the M2 motorway from Lahore to Islamabad will remain closed. Additionally, roads from Lahore to Abdul Hakeem, from Pindi Bhattian to Multan, and from Sialkot to Lahore will also be closed.

Public Facing Hardships

The closure of roads and motorways has caused severe inconvenience for the public. At Rawalpindi Railway Station, the number of passengers has doubled, with many unable to get tickets due to the overcrowding. Despite shuttle trains, thousands of passengers have not been able to reach their destinations, and many have set up camp at the railway station.

Railway authorities have assured that they will ensure passengers are promptly sent to their destinations, and a second shuttle train will run at 4 PM today.

Section 144 Imposed

The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 across the province for 3 days, banning all forms of protests, rallies, sit-ins, and gatherings. Similarly, Section 144 has been enforced in Balochistan, which prohibits gatherings of more than four people and the display of weapons. The restriction will remain in place for 15 days.

These measures are being taken to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of the public, preventing any misuse of public gatherings for disruptive or anti-state activities.