On Wednesday (today), Pakistan Tehreek-i-long Insaf’s march on Islamabad is expected to result in a confrontation with the government, which is determined to use all available resources to stop it.
Though the federal cabinet decided yesterday that the PTI would not be permitted to hold its procession towards Islamabad, Imran Khan, the unyielding chairman of the PTI, has urged its supporters and activists to march on Islamabad despite the obstacles.
Since Monday night, the government has arrested more than 1,000 PTI leaders and workers in several cities of Punjab and the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in an effort to thwart a PTI power show in the federal capital.
KP cut off from Punjab; entry and exit points closed in twin cities
The government has sealed off all entry and exit points to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is governed by the PTI and from which Imran vowed to lead a rally to Islamabad, has been cut off from Punjab.
The Swabi Motorway is closed to all traffic from the Anbar Interchange. The government has placed containers on the Jhelum River bridges after demolishing the bridges’ protective walls.
Meanwhile, section 144 has already been implemented in Punjab, Sindh, and Islamabad.
Faizabad situation
The local government has blocked the Faizabad Interchange road, which leads to Islamabad. The district administration has obstructed Murree Road with containers by placing them everywhere.
Sixest Road, Chandni Chowk, and Committee Chowk – the roads that lead to Cantt and Murree Road – have been blocked by containers.
Closed Metro Bus Service in Twin Cities
Metro Bus service has been discontinued in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The service will be unavailable until May 26. According to sources, the decision regarding its opening will depend on the circumstances.
Swabi Motorway
The entire Swabi Motorway is blocked. PTI activists have begun to congregate at the Anbar Interchange, from which PTI Chief Imran Khan will lead a rally to Islamabad.
Police detain “hundreds” of PTI supporters
Hundreds of supporters of ousted prime minister Imran Khan were detained overnight in preparation for a major sit-in planned by the former leader, according to senior party members and police sources on Tuesday, as the government vowed to block the protest.
Khan, a former cricket star turned populist politician, was ousted from power last month in a vote of no confidence. However, he has since exerted pressure on the country’s fragile new coalition government by staging rallies across the nation.
Khan plans to lead tens of thousands of supporters from his power base in the city of Peshawar in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the capital Islamabad on Wednesday to demand new elections.
“Tomorrow, I will lead the largest march in the history of Pakistan. I consider it jihad, not politics “Khan said.
Many entry and exit points in and around the city of Lahore, located approximately 380 kilometres (236 miles) away, were also blocked. In Islamabad, shipping container roadblocks were installed, and the government quarter was placed under lockdown.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told reporters, “This (protest) is meant to polarise the nation and promote anarchy.” Nobody should be permitted to besiege the capital and impose their will.
“We cannot allow this march to occur,” Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb added.
Two police officials told AFP that overnight raids in Punjab resulted in the arrest of over 200 PTI supporters.
They were booked for violations of public order and remain in custody, according to one of the sources.
The former minister of information, Fawad Chaudhry, claimed that police lacked the necessary warrants and that the number of arrests exceeded 400.
“Overnight, more than 1,100 homes were raided. The police unlawfully entered the homes and insulted the women and children “he tweeted.
During a raid on the home of a PTI supporter in Lahore, a police officer was shot and killed, according to Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz Sharif.
Officially, the police have not commented on the arrests or allegations.
Attaullah Tarar, leader of the PML-N, stated at a press conference that protestors intended to join the march “with weapons.”
“We have information that they have begun ammo collection in multiple locations,” he told reporters.
Hassan Askari Rizvi, a political analyst, told AFP that the establishment is currently neutral in the standoff, but “they may attempt to defuse the situation if it gets worse.”
