Pakistani Authorities Locks Down Islamabad as Khan Supporters March
Anti-government protesters approach Pakistan’s capital, Nov. 24, 2024. X/ @I_m_Wahab22
November 24, 2024 Hour: 7:04 am
Some 29,000 police and military personnel have been deployed to ensure security in the capital city.
On Sunday, authorities in Islamabad have locked down the Pakistani capital, deploying thousands of security personnel and blocking roads ahead of a planned protest march by the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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“Approximately 29,000 security personnel from Islamabad police, Punjab province, and other regions, as well as Rangers and the Frontier Corps, have been deployed to ensure security in Islamabad,” said Taqi Jawad, a spokesperson for the capital’s police.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by the ousted Prime Minister Khan, has called for what it describes as a “last chance” national march toward Islamabad, demanding the release of imprisoned opposition figures, particularly their leader. The heavily publicized march has been labeled by the party as a “life or death” moment for Khan’s freedom.
The PTI also demands the restoration of what it calls a “stolen mandate” from the Feb. 8 elections, claiming that restrictions and bans prevented the party from forming a government despite strong victories at the polls. Convoys and protesters have set off from various parts of the country en route to Islamabad.
Authorities have blocked major highways and roads with shipping containers at all entry points to prevent access to the federal capital. Roads within the city have also been closed at various points, making movement difficult for residents.
Users reported slow internet services across many parts of the country starting Saturday night, and the independent internet monitoring organization NetBlocks confirmed restrictions on WhatsApp. Mobile internet service was suspended in Islamabad today.
“The suspension of mobile data and Wi-Fi services will be limited to areas with security concerns,” the Interior Ministry said last night, adding that “services in the rest of the country will remain operational as usual.” Pakistan’s National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) announced that highways nationwide have been closed for “maintenance.”
Last Thursday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) prohibited the PTI from holding the march, citing security concerns related to the visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and a delegation of more than 60 members to Islamabad tomorrow. Additionally, Islamabad’s district magistrate recently imposed a two-month ban on gatherings of over five people in the capital under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
On Saturday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that police would arrest anyone violating court orders. “The court’s directive is clear, and anyone attempting to protest will be arrested and face legal consequences. There is no ambiguity on our part,” he said.
Last week, the National Counter Terrorism Authority warned that militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan and infiltrated major cities. According to this warning, insurgents could target the PTI’s protest march.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
